Judiciary

Kozinski Joins the Establishment as Chief Judge

Only a few federal appeals court judges develop such a following that court watchers read their opinions just for an unusual turn of phrase or interesting observation. Judge Alex Kozinski, described both as a conservative and a libertarian, is one of them. Known for his unusual pastimes and irreverent nature,…

Oct 19, 2007 5:41 PM CDT

Praise for Mukasey, More Criticism of Gonzales

Michael Mukasey, the president’s nominee to succeed Alberto Gonzales as U.S. attorney general, was warmly welcomed by lawmakers of both parties at a confirmation hearing today, in a session that included implicit, and sometimes explicit, criticism of his predecessor. “During the afternoon session, lawmakers of both parties showered Mukasey with…

Oct 18, 2007 1:06 AM CDT

Frozen Embryo Gets Day in Court

A frozen embryo has not only retained a lawyer to file a federal court case over planned stem cell research but has strong objections to a previously enacted California ballot measure. Martin Palmer, a Maryland attorney who says he represents the “preborn” plaintiff, Mary Scott Doe, argued against a 2004…

Oct 17, 2007 9:03 PM CDT

Panel: Convictions Disqualify Temp Judge

Unless it is over 10 years old, a criminal record disqualifies a lawyer from serving as a judge, even on a temporary basis, in Seattle. This decision by the King County District Court’s executive committee—as well as a new policy of conducting criminal background checks on all applicants for temporary…

Oct 17, 2007 7:33 PM CDT

Under Fire in Congress, DOJ Mulls Jena Case

At a Congressional hearing today, U.S. Department of Justice officials said they are considering a prosecution over the handling of the case of the so-called Jena Six—black youths who apparently were treated much more harshly than whites concerning similar alleged schoolyard crimes in a small town in Louisiana. However, they…

Oct 17, 2007 12:13 AM CDT

Dismissed! Lack of CA Judges Ends Cases

Two California criminal cases were dismissed yesterday in Riverside County because of a lack of judges. And seven more—all of them felonies—appeared headed for the same conclusion today. Charges were immediately refiled by prosecutors concerning the one felony case dismissed yesterday, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. And the same result…

Oct 16, 2007 6:59 PM CDT

Judge Who Won Libel Verdict Defends Ethics Charge

A judge who won a $2.1 million libel verdict against the Boston Herald choked up as he defended himself on ethics charges that he used court stationery to demand even more money to conclude the case. The Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct has accused Judge Ernest Murphy of using court…

Oct 16, 2007 3:47 PM CDT

After Murders, Judge Seeks ‘Resurrections’

With the third anniversary of a tragic day in her life several months away, U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow has granted an interview to a national television show, her first since the event that changed her life. On Feb. 28, 2005, Lefkow’s mother and husband were murdered at her Chicago…

Oct 15, 2007 10:40 PM CDT

Judge’s Joking Went Too Far

Updated: During his first four years on the bench, Baltimore County District Judge Bruce Lamdin tended to say what he thought. Some considered him a breath of fresh air, a jurist who really knew how to establish a rapport with those who appeared in front of him and make a…

Oct 15, 2007 3:24 PM CDT

2 La. Judges Indicted in Racketeering Case

Two Louisiana judges have been indicted for allegedly taking bribes to help get defendants out of jail by reducing bond, among other mechanisms. Both State District Judge Michael Walker, 57, and Caddo Parish Juvenile Court Judge Vernon Claville, 56, are accused in the federal racketeering case of accepting bribes from…

Oct 12, 2007 9:51 PM CDT

PA High Court Race Hits Record $5 M

For the first time ever, candidates competing for a seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court have collectively raised more than $5 million in campaign funds. By mid-September, eight candidates had together raised a total of just over $5 million, smashing a 12-year-old fundraising record, reports the Justice at Stake Campaign…

Oct 12, 2007 4:47 PM CDT

IL Chief Justice Settles Libel Case

The chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court has settled his libel suit against a Chicago suburban newspaper for a reported $3 million. The agreement settles ongoing litigation after a $7 million libel verdict for Justice Robert Thomas against the Kane County Chronicle, the Chicago Tribune reports. The Chronicle also…

Oct 12, 2007 2:35 PM CDT

Judge Censured for ‘Nice Butt’ Remarks

A New York town court judge who made light of a defendant’s assertion that his lawyer was “cute” and had “a nice butt” has been censured for the “misguided attempt at humor.” Justice Edmund V. Caplicki Jr. of LaGrange Town Court in Dutchess County informed the lawyer of the remarks…

Oct 12, 2007 1:22 PM CDT

Federal, State Judges in Sentencing Spat

A career criminal’s almost-successful effort to circumvent a lengthy federal sentence by persuading a state court judge to vacate an earlier conviction has been foiled after the state court judge changed her mind about doing so. But U.S. District Court Judge William Young obviously was still irked about the incident…

Oct 11, 2007 11:39 PM CDT

Judge Targeted for Refusing After-Hours Lethal Injection Appeal

Twenty lawyers have filed an ethics complaint against the presiding judge of Texas’ top criminal court contending she should have kept the court open past 5 p.m. to accept an emergency appeal on behalf of a death-row inmate scheduled to die later that day. The complaint against Presiding Judge Sharon…

Oct 11, 2007 4:42 PM CDT