Judiciary

Texas Judge is Convicted of Perjury, Gets 30-Day Jail Term in Groping Case

A Texas judge accused of fondling a temporary worker and exposing himself to her has been convicted of perjuring himself in a related investigation. A Kleberg County jury found Willacy County Judge Eliseo Barnhart guilty yesterday of two counts of aggravated perjury, and the judge in the case sentenced the…

Aug 15, 2008 3:41 PM CDT

Lawyer-Led Protests Prevail in Pakistan: Musharraf is Expected to Step Down

After more than a year of lawyer-led protests over the breakdown of the rule of law helped force parliamentary elections that brought opposing parties to power, the president of Pakistan reportedly has agreed, or will soon agree, to step down. Sources say President Pervez Musharraf probably will announce his decision…

Aug 14, 2008 9:34 PM CDT

Detroit Mayor is Untethered, Then Re-Restricted

Reversing another judge’s earlier order that Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick had to wear an electronic tether due to his violation of bond restrictions on traveling, a Wayne County Circuit Court judge today not only untethered the mayor but lifted the travel ban. “He is not a flight risk. I see…

Aug 14, 2008 7:25 PM CDT

Teen’s Murder Spurs Mexican Police & Legal System Reform Efforts

In a country already reeling from the effects of a brutal drug war, the abduction and murder of the 14-year-old son of a well-to-do Mexican industrialist is spurring national efforts to clean up the country’s police and courts. “Mexicans have lived for decades with police corruption and a legal system…

Aug 14, 2008 6:20 PM CDT

Ex-Prisoner Puts Tenn. Federal Judge Appointment on Hold

More than a year ago, President George W. Bush nominated Gustavus Puryear IV to be a federal district judge in Nashville, Tenn. His nomination is supported by Republican Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker of Tennessee, which ordinarily would put him on a fast track to confirmation. But a former…

Aug 14, 2008 3:51 PM CDT

Judge: Recusal Not Needed on Judicial Job Cuts Since Private Practice Pays More

A panel of the Michigan Court of Appeals has ruled that recusal is not required in a challenge to a ballot measure that would cut judges’ pay and eliminate some of their jobs. The court said the “rule of necessity” allows judges to rule, even if their own jobs are…

Aug 14, 2008 3:03 PM CDT

Judge Suggests Legal Fees Padded Due to Billable-Hour Requirement

A dispute over $64,000 in a judge’s unpaid legal fees has highlighted law firm billable-hour requirements. Judge David French of Palm Beach County claims the Rutherford Mulhall law firm charged him for 300 unnecessary hours of work in his alimony case and suggests that law firm policies may be to…

Aug 14, 2008 12:18 PM CDT

Embattled Las Vegas Judge Loses Election

Suspended Las Vegas Judge Elizabeth Halverson, currently battling disciplinary charges, won’t be returning to the bench. But it wasn’t disciplinary officials who ousted her. Halverson received just 10 percent of the vote in a three-way primary yesterday, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. Halverson is accused of falling asleep during trials,…

Aug 13, 2008 2:45 PM CDT

Judicial Independence in Kuwait: Death Penalty for Royal Family Member

Reportedly caught in his home in Kuwait with 22 pounds of cocaine and 165 pounds of hashish, Talal Nasser al Sabah was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death. The capital sentence is highly unusual, in this case, because Talal is a member of the Persian Gulf country’s royal…

Aug 12, 2008 5:35 PM CDT

Outcry By Family Lawyers, Solos Nixes Self-Help Clinic

There may be a trend nationally to establish more self-help centers in courthouses and public spaces to aid those who are choosing the pro se route in court. But not in Texas. A pilot program meant to test the self-help waters in San Antonio is sunk. The center, which in…

Aug 12, 2008 4:57 PM CDT

Ind. Judge Gives No-Show Juror a Sign, Literally

A Northwest Indiana judge aggravated that a juror failed to show up during the second day of a murder trial decided to teach the 20-year-old no-show, and anyone harboring similar ideas, a lesson. But rather than hold Michael Leibengood behind bars for long, Lake County, Ind., Criminal Court Judge Thomas…

Aug 12, 2008 4:12 PM CDT

ABA Proposes Bipartisan Judicial Selection Process

Updated: Senators from each state should jointly appoint bipartisan commissions of lawyers and others to recommend the names of attorneys to fill federal trial court vacancies that the senators might recommend to the president, the ABA’s 555-member policy-making House of Delegates recommended today. Bipartisan commissions should also be used by…

Aug 11, 2008 8:46 PM CDT

When Expert Witnesses Disagree, ‘Hot-Tubbing’ is a Possible Solution

When expert witnesses have opposing views of the same evidence, even the judge can be daunted. And, unfortunately, the American system of having each side hire its own expert too often creates such a situation. But approaches used in other countries, if tried here, could help eliminate such routine disagreements…

Aug 11, 2008 8:28 PM CDT

Wells to Target Judicial Nominees, Pro Bono for Military Personnel, Voter Rights

H. Thomas Wells Jr., who officially begins his term as ABA president Monday, announced the launch of two new association initiatives during a morning news conference in New York City, the site of the 2008 ABA Annual Meeting. Both projects, Wells said, reflect his belief that “as lawyers, we can…

Aug 11, 2008 6:08 PM CDT

Marshals Service Investigates Video Rants Against YouTube Judge

Someone who goes by the name Cap’n Awesome isn’t happy with the Manhattan judge handling Viacom’s $1 billion infringement lawsuit against YouTube. The Cap’n has posted a YouTube video, rated five stars, that features liberal use of the F-word and a crude name for U.S. District Judge Louis Stanton. InsaneClownPerv,…

Aug 11, 2008 12:27 PM CDT