Judiciary

Order for Attys to Donate $500K to Charity Backfires on Judge

When Tennessee Judge Hamilton Gayden presided over a case involving of stockholders in a class action against CVS/Caremark, he wanted to see someone benefit besides the lawyers. After all, only the lawyers would see any money, in the form of legal fees, from the eventual settlement. So Gayden ordered attorneys…

Apr 23, 2008 11:51 AM CDT

Judge Who Hid Disbarred Spouse’s Assets Steps Down

Embattled New Hampshire Superior Court Justice Patricia Coffey, who last week was suspended for three years, is stepping down from the bench. The Nashua Telegraph reports that Coffey abruptly resigned Monday after expressing disappointment with the state supreme court sanction. The paper notes that Coffey’s resignation ends a lengthy ethics…

Apr 22, 2008 5:57 PM CDT

Posner Blasts Asylum Courts, Calls for Judicial Conference

Long a critic of “inadequate” and “ill-trained” asylum courts, the 7th Circuit’s Richard Posner reportedly offered up some remedies in a speech Monday. “This is a system of adjudication that is clearly inadequate,” Posner told a Chicago Bar Association audience. The National Law Journal (sub. req.) reports that Posner called…

Apr 22, 2008 2:59 PM CDT

Sacked Pakistan Appellate Judges Could Be Restored to Office Soon

Updated: Dozens of Pakistan appellate judges removed from office in November by the country’s president could now be restored to their former seats by the end of April. Leaders of a new coalition government that has come to the fore after recent parliamentary elections say they plan to put the…

Apr 21, 2008 8:13 PM CDT

Meet Barbara Walther, Judge in Texas Ranch Raid Case

A Texas state court judge had perhaps the toughest case in the nation last week as she presided over a record-breaking 416-child custody hearing. But Barbara Walther is a seasoned, authoritative jurist with a sense of humor who handled the challenging hearing as well as anyone could have, according to…

Apr 21, 2008 7:14 PM CDT

Judge’s $14K Sanction Against Lawyer Overturned

The Virginia Supreme Court has ruled that a Norfolk circuit judge abused his discretion when he fined a lawyer $14,000 when the lawyer’s client filed for bankruptcy on the eve of trial. Norfolk Circuit Judge Chuck Griffith ordered John J. McNally to pay the fine in 2006 and was one…

Apr 21, 2008 2:06 PM CDT

Judge Who Tried to Hide Assets for Disbarred Husband Gets 3-Yr Suspension

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has suspended a judge for three years, a term 12 times longer than a disciplinary panel had recommended. The unpaid suspension of Superior Court Judge Patricia Coffey comes after the court concluded she was complicit in a fraudulent property transfer involving her lawyer-husband, the Concord…

Apr 21, 2008 10:53 AM CDT

Right to Life, Judges File New Suit Challenging Judicial Ethics Code

Two candidates for judge and the Indiana Right to Life Committee have filed a federal lawsuit to block enforcement of state rules that bar the judges from answering a survey that asks about their views on abortion, assisted suicide and other hot-button issues. The candidates, Marion Superior Court Judge David…

Apr 21, 2008 10:31 AM CDT

Huge 416-Child Custody Hearing in Texas Ranch Raid Involves 350 Lawyers

Updated: A huge custody hearing began today concerning 416 children taken by Texas officials from a ranch operated by a renegade Mormon sect that reportedly promotes polygamy. It bogged down almost immediately as lawyers for the children demanded to see the evidence being introduced—three teenagers’ medical records. “State District Judge…

Apr 17, 2008 5:44 PM CDT

Moonlighting Mass. Judge Steps Down

A Massachusetts probate and family court judge who has been under fire for reportedly running a sideline real estate business and accepting compensation related to his former law practice has agreed to step down and apologized. Michael Livingstone, 51, will resign from the bench, effective June 12, and is taking…

Apr 17, 2008 5:02 PM CDT

Selya to Head FISA Court

U.S. District Judge Bruce Selya of Rhode Island has been named to head the secret court that hears wiretap requests in terrorism cases. Selya has been a member of the U.S. Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review since 2005 and will become presiding judge in May, the Providence Journal reports.…

Apr 15, 2008 4:59 PM CDT

Judge Plans Suit for Courthouse Fall on Wet Floor

A Brooklyn judge is planning to file a $1 million injury suit against the city after falling on a freshly mopped floor at the courthouse. Judge Jack Battaglia claims he fractured his knee and now has difficulty walking because of the accident, the New York Daily News reports. His notice…

Apr 15, 2008 3:54 PM CDT

U.S. Judge Reveals Details of Discipline Case, Seeks Release of Secret Dissent

A New Orleans federal judge is revealing more details of the disciplinary case against him and is seeking release of a secret dissent to an impeachment recommendation. U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous has until Thursday to file a memo to address impeachment issues, the Times Picayune reports. Porteous’ lawyer, Lewis…

Apr 15, 2008 2:06 PM CDT

Greenberg Traurig Settles Guam Case Over Jack Abramoff Matter

An indictment in Guam against Greenberg Traurig that arose from alleged misconduct by the law firm’s former lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, has been resolved with a civil settlement and dismissed. “We are pleased to announce that the Superior Court in Guam dismissed all charges against the firm today,” writes a firm…

Apr 14, 2008 5:46 PM CDT

Spanish Judge Fined $162K for Jailing of Innocent Man

A Spanish judge who failed to release an acquitted man from jail because of an oversight has been fined $162,000 and suspended for a year. Judge Adelina Entrena was found guilty of grave negligence by the Superior Court of Justice of Andalusia, the Associated Press reports. She failed to notify…

Apr 11, 2008 12:53 PM CDT