Judiciary

Judge: Listening to Lawyers is Hard Work

It isn’t easy trying to pay close attention to lawyers talking in court, because they can be quite boring, says a senior Australian judge. Too often, complains Justice Peter Young, traditional presentations to the court lack drama, and may not even be particularly relevant to the case, reports the Australian,…

Jan 8, 2008 11:02 PM CST

Formal Charges Filed Against Controversial Vegas Judge

Formal ethics charges have been filed against Las Vegas Judge Elizabeth Halverson, who was suspended on an interim basis this fall based on allegations that she mistreated staff and slept during court hearings. The 14-count complaint (PDF) contends Halverson fell asleep on the bench three times, had improper conversations with…

Jan 8, 2008 8:32 PM CST

‘Sadly Predictable’ Murder By Released Prisoner in Calif. Domestic Case

It’s a sad story that’s been told before, but California prosecutors are trying to figure out how to keep it from happening again: Accused of twice taking his estranged wife to isolated locations and restraining her during November 2007—once by handcuffing her to furniture in a hotel room and another…

Jan 8, 2008 5:54 PM CST

Judge Moonlighted as Attorney, Ruled on Own Cases

During a 16-year stint as a probate judge in Portland, Conn., Richard Guliani heard three cases in which he was also acting as an attorney. This was, however, a conflict of interest for which he has reportedly been suspended from law practice for six months, starting Dec. 10. In one…

Jan 7, 2008 11:14 PM CST

Prof: Pay Raise for Judges Hard to Justify

A University of North Carolina law professor penned an Op-Ed piece this week challenging the notion that giving federal judges a pay raise will improve the quality of the judiciary. Earlier this week, in his annual report to Congress, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. asserted that low judicial pay…

Jan 4, 2008 5:38 PM CST

Ex-Judge Fights Release of Lurid Audiotape

A former Tennessee judge is fighting the release of an audiotape that contains his lurid fantasies that sounded like someone being tortured. Judge John Hagler resigned last month after the Chattanooga Times Free Press learned about the recording, the Associated Press reports. A fired secretary had turned it over to…

Jan 3, 2008 11:53 AM CST

Reporter Finds Social Security Numbers of Well-Known Figures

The Washington Post was able to find the Social Security numbers of former secretary of state Colin Powell, Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, and former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman. The Post reporter looked at websites with information on land and court records to locate the numbers of those three…

Jan 2, 2008 7:23 PM CST

Roberts Tries Gentler Approach on Judge Pay Issue

Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. took a different tack when he asked for pay raises for judges in his annual year-end report on the federal judiciary. Last year, Roberts was forceful in calling for a pay hike, but this year he sounded a conciliatory note, the New York Times…

Jan 2, 2008 1:06 PM CST

Judge Slapped for Sending Threatening Letter

New York’s Commission on Judicial Conduct has admonished a judge for sending a threatening letter to a tenant in an attempt to enforce a landlord/tenant oral settlement that went beyond the judge’s authority. Seneca County’s Junius town justice, Stephen H. Brown, reportedly sent a letter last December to the tenant…

Dec 21, 2007 7:30 PM CST

Flanked By Marshals, Federal Judge Visits Troubled Trailer Park

In an unusual firsthand look at the conditions of a trailer park, U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson trekked through muddy roads, accompanying inspectors at Duroville on the Torres Martinez Indian Reservation. At issue are purported dangerous conditions at the mobile home park. Larson, flanked by marshals carrying assault rifles and…

Dec 21, 2007 7:11 PM CST

Federal Judge’s Conduct Cited as Possible Grounds for Impeachment

A special court panel has found that U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous of New Orleans has engaged in conduct that might constitute grounds for impeachment, including filing false statements with a bankruptcy court and accepting lawyer gifts. The report (PDF) by the Judicial Council of the 5th U.S. Circuit will…

Dec 21, 2007 12:17 PM CST

Biased Comments Bench Fla. Judge

A Florida appeals court has removed a state judge from presiding over a blackmail case in which her comments implied that she might not be fair to the prosecution. After Grammy-winning singer, Alejandro Sanz, who is the victim of the alleged blackmail attempt, objected to his deposition in the criminal…

Dec 20, 2007 6:26 PM CST

Tinder Confirmed for 7th Circuit; Senator Raises Concern

The U.S. Senate has confirmed U.S. District Judge John Daniel Tinder of Indiana for a seat on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The vote was unanimous for Tinder, who had the backing of both of Indiana’s senators, the Indianapolis Star reports. “Throughout John’s career, his reputation for…

Dec 20, 2007 5:14 PM CST

Congress Passes Court Security Law that Moves Seat to 9th Circuit

Congress has passed a court security law that moves one federal appellate seat from the D.C. Circuit to the 9th Circuit. The extra 9th Circuit seat will be added on Jan. 21, 2009, the day after President Bush leaves office, the Recorder reports. The bill authorizes appropriation of $200 million…

Dec 19, 2007 4:02 PM CST

Ex-Judge Has Law License Suspended for Affair With Prosecutor

A former Colorado judge has had his law license suspended for three years after an affair with a prosecutor. Grafton Minot Biddle of Douglas County was accused of having an affair with deputy district attorney Laurie Hurst. Despite the liaison, she had appeared in his courtroom for two trials and…

Dec 19, 2007 1:51 PM CST