Judiciary

‘Unlikely Blogger’: Nancy Gertner, a Federal Judge

Among the contributors to Slate’s new blog on legal issues is Nancy Gertner, a former criminal defense lawyer who is now a federal district court judge. According to federal and state officials, she appears to be the only judge in Massachusetts who is sharing her unfiltered views with the public…

May 27, 2008 10:21 PM CDT

Judge’s Abrupt End to Testimony Results in New Trial

A California appeals court has granted a new trial to a divorce litigant whose case abruptly ended when the judge walked out while his lawyer was questioning a witness. The judge, Peter McBrien of Sacramento, said he was leaving to handle a request for a protective order, the Recorder (sub.…

May 27, 2008 1:56 PM CDT

Most Countries Don’t Hold Judicial Elections

Most states elect judges, but the practice is not so common in other countries. The National Center for State Courts says 87 percent of all state court judges face elections and 39 states elect at least some of their judges, the New York Times reports. But in other countries, most…

May 27, 2008 1:31 PM CDT

Rare Chance to Change Florida Supreme Court: 4 Vacancies Expected

The chief justice of the Florida Supreme Court announced today that he is resigning for family reasons, giving the state’s governor a rare chance to reconfigure it. That’s because Chief Justice Kenneth Bell, 52, is one of four judges on the seven-member court who will be leaving within the next…

May 23, 2008 8:15 PM CDT

Texas to Appeal Decision Calling for Return of 468 FLDS Kids to Parents

Told by an appellate court yesterday that government officials illegally removed up to 468 children from the custody of parents living at a ranch run by a fundamentalist religious group, Texas will now appeal that ruling to the state’s highest court. The State Department of Family and Protective Services plans…

May 23, 2008 7:13 PM CDT

Fla. Judge’s Dilemma: How to Sentence Teen in Traffic Death?

For the past two weeks, a Florida judge has been thinking about the Ryan Cornett case every day as he drove to work. Although the state highway patrol determined that Cornett, then 17, wasn’t responsible for the death of Duke Gray, 37, in April 2007, the teen was charged with…

May 22, 2008 10:00 PM CDT

2 Texas Judges Warned About Slavery Talk, Buttocks Slap

State disciplinary authorities in Texas issued warnings to two judges that chastise one for discussing slavery with an African-American attorney before his court and another who reportedly “slapped” a female lawyer’s behind at a party. In the public warnings released today, the State Commission on Judicial Conduct ordered Tarrant County…

May 22, 2008 6:47 PM CDT

Delaware, New York City Still Biggest Bankruptcy Venues

Delaware and New York City continue to be the most desired venues for lawyers filing federal bankruptcy cases on behalf of corporate clients, and their popularity has grown in recent years as tougher bankruptcy laws and a credit crisis make it even more important to have a skilled judge who…

May 22, 2008 4:04 PM CDT

Outspoken Arkansas Appeals Judge Loses Election

An appeals judge in Arkansas who fought for the right to criticize President Bush has lost his re-election bid. Wendell Griffen “lost decisively,” the Associated Press reports. Last year a state judicial discipline panel dropped charges against the outspoken Griffen for remarks made outside the courtroom. The ethics complaint had…

May 22, 2008 12:21 PM CDT

Male Judges in Vegas Score Better on Courtesy in Newspaper Survey

Male judges in the county that includes Las Vegas outscored females on courtesy in a survey (PDF) by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The female judge who scored highest for courtesy still had marks that were lower than all but two of the male judges, the newspaper reports. The lowest rated…

May 22, 2008 11:04 AM CDT

Supreme Court Shot for Hillary Clinton?

As Barack Obama slowly but surely takes a definitive lead in the Democratic primary, there’s another option he could pursue to put opponent Hillary Clinton on his team as she gamely continues her seeming losing battle for the presidential nomination. “It’s likely that the next president will face at least…

May 22, 2008 12:36 AM CDT

7th Circuit Chief: Be On the Lookout for ‘Cranky’ Judges

Chief Judge Frank Easterbrook this week asked practitioners and judges to be on the alert for any aging, cranky judges who may need a call from his office. “I urge all of you—judges and lawyers alike—to keep in mind that you are the chief judge’s eyes and ears in dealing…

May 21, 2008 9:58 PM CDT

2 Female Firsts: 1st Circuit Chief Judge and SW Gas Gen’l Counsel

Two female firsts have been announced in top judicial and corporate positions: Judge Sandra Lynch is to become the first female chief judge of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on June 16, according to Boston Business Journal and a 1st Circuit press release. She succeeds Chief Judge Michael…

May 21, 2008 9:16 PM CDT

Will Popular Bankruptcy Judge Return, After Dress Incident?

Lawyers in Boston are still waiting and wondering whether a popular bankruptcy judge, who resigned from the bench after a much-publicized cross-dressing incident but then changed his mind, will be allowed to return to the bench. Whether U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Somma will be allowed to rescind his resignation was…

May 21, 2008 5:10 PM CDT

Under UK Judges’ Robes: Suits, Shorts, Jeans

As civil court judges in the U.K. prepare to abandon a nearly 350-year-old tradition of wearing white wigs and winged collars and step into new all-weather robes designed by Betty Jackson, interest has focused not only on their public attire but what they wear in court underneath their robes. While…

May 21, 2008 4:10 PM CDT