In Upcoming Memoir, Sotomayor Tells How Fear of Early Death Affected Motherhood Decision

A new memoir by Justice Sonia Sotomayor, scheduled for publication in January, explains a primary reason she opted not to have children: a fear of early death. Sotomayor has struggled with diabetes since childhood, and she says the fear of dying early was a big factor in her decision against…

Dec 11, 2012 1:04 PM CST

Jailed Ky. Judge-Executive Hasn’t Resigned; Will He, Like Predecessor, Hold Job in Prison?

For the second time in a row, the judge-executive of Knott County, Ky., has gone to prison after being convicted in a vote-buying case. That raises the question, will Knott County Judge-Executive Randy Thompson, like his predecessor, former Judge-Executive Donnie Newsome, continue to hold office as judge-executive while he serves…

Dec 10, 2012 5:11 PM CST

Ex-Neighbor Convicted of Plot to Murder Minn. Prosecutor

A former neighbor of a Minnesota prosecutor was convicted by a jury Friday of plotting his murder. Stephen Woodward was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the premeditated first-degree murder of Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom, the Lakeville Patch reports. Woodward apparently blamed Backstrom for a drug case that initially…

Dec 10, 2012 4:45 PM CST

Hearing Board Seeks to Keep Yelling Judge Off Bench, Notes His Angry Glare During Hearing

A West Virginia judge accused of yelling at litigants didn’t help his case during a hearing last month before the state’s Judicial Hearing Board. The hearing board is recommending Judge William Watkins III be kept off the bench for the rest of his term and explained why in an opinion…

Dec 10, 2012 12:00 PM CST

Cert Petition Seeks to Overturn Sanction for Pro Se Litigant’s ‘Imperative Use of the F-Bomb’

A U.S. Supreme Court cert petition filed by the federal public defender in South Carolina seeks to overturn a contempt conviction for a pro se litigant who used the F-word when a federal judge dismissed one of his multiple suits against prison officials. The cert petition (PDF) asks whether Robert…

Dec 10, 2012 11:30 AM CST

Reports: Judge Complains of Claimed Stalker, Ends Up on Admin Leave, Facing Another Ethics Complaint

Censured earlier this year for texting a shirtless photo to a court employee, a Michigan judge is now the focus of new allegations that he had a relationship with a witness in a child-support case he presided over. The claimed relationship apparently came to the attention of authorities when 3rd…

Dec 7, 2012 10:52 PM CST

In Post-Election Thaw, Senate Confirms Four Judges

The U.S. Senate this week confirmed four federal judges whose nominations had been held up in the months before the election. “The freeze on federal judicial nominations appears to be thawing for the first time since the presidential election, at least when it comes to district court nominees,” according to…

Dec 7, 2012 2:29 PM CST

Latest Lawyer Sentenced in Judicial Bribery Case Gets 3.5 Years in Federal Prison

A lawyer convicted earlier this year of bribing a South Texas judge was sentenced Thursday in Brownsville to 3½ years in federal prison. Ray R. Marchan was convicted after a jury trial of seven counts in June, including racketeering, but subsequently had one mail fraud conviction reversed, the San Antonio…

Dec 6, 2012 8:49 PM CST

Judge Accused of Marketing Materials for her For-Profit Religious Ministry at Courthouse

A Florida judge is facing legal ethics charges, accused of trying to sell books related to her for-profit religious ministry to those at the Leon County courthouse instead of focusing on her judicial duties. In a Wednesday filing, an investigative panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission contends that Leon County…

Dec 6, 2012 6:02 PM CST

Appeals Court Ousts Beard-Banning Judge in Case of Fort Hood Suspect

The military’s top court has removed the judge who ordered Fort Hood shooting suspect Nidal Hasan to shave his beard or be forcibly shaven. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces removed Col. Gregory Gross, the chief circuit judge at Fort Hood, from Hasan’s case on Monday, the…

Dec 4, 2012 1:17 PM CST

Study: Justices Interrupt Lawyers More Often When They Disagree; Scalia Interrupts Both Sides

U.S. Supreme Court justices tend to interrupt counsel during oral arguments more often when they disagree with the position being taken, a new study has found. Justice Antonin Scalia, however, consistently interrupts arguments from both sides, and only barely favors lawyers when he agrees with their positions, reports U.S. News…

Dec 4, 2012 11:30 AM CST

Mind Reading: Judges Can Keep Deliberations to Themselves, Mass. Court Says

Dec 1, 2012 9:40 AM CST

Illinois Judge Facing Disciplinary Action over Viewing Porn at Work Admits Longtime Addiction

An Illinois judge facing disciplinary charges for viewing pornography on his courthouse computer has tearfully admitted being addicted to porn since childhood. “I used pornography as a crutch to deal with my feelings of inadequacy,” Will County Judge Joseph C. Polito told the Illinois Courts Commission at a hearing Thursday,…

Nov 30, 2012 9:40 PM CST

Ginsburg’s Love of Job Shows Problems with ‘Supreme Court Vacancy Sweepstakes’

Speculation abounds on whether any U.S. Supreme Court liberals will retire to allow President Barack Obama a chance to name a replacement. The focus is on Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is 79 years old and the court’s oldest member. “But Justice Ginsburg illustrates some of the fundamental problems with…

Nov 30, 2012 7:10 PM CST

Judge in Video Tirade Admits Some Anger Issues; Recommended Sanction Would Keep Him on Bench

A West Virginia judge who made headlines because of a videotaped tirade apologized and admitted some anger management issues before a judicial hearing board on Tuesday. Judge William Watkins III has admitted allegations in a misconduct complaint and agreed to recommended discipline that would allow him to remain on the…

Nov 30, 2012 12:15 PM CST