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Recusals Make It Likely That Judge from Outside Gulf Will Hear Oil-Spill Cases

By Molly McDonough

June 2, 2010, 2:25 pm CDT

The mounting oil-spill lawsuits against BP and Transocean Ltd. may need to be heard by a federal judge from outside the Gulf Coast because judges in the region are recusing themselves, citing various conflicts of interest.

Bloomberg reports that six of 12 active federal judges in New Orleans have already removed themselves from spill-related cases filed by fishermen, property owners and businesses. Judges in Alabama are also stepping aside.

Citing court records, Bloomberg reports that judges had ties to oil investments or had personal relationships with involved lawyers and companies.

Plaintiffs raised the issue in a request to have the cases combined before U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin, of the Southern District of New York. The request proposes cases be consolidated in Louisiana.

However, BP and other defendants are pushing for federal court in Houston and for the consolidated cases to be assigned to U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes, who Bloomberg reports has investment ties to the oil industry.