Ethics

97-year-old federal appeals judge should be suspended another year for exam refusal, panel says

A 97-year-old judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit should be suspended from case assignments for another year for failing to participate in a probe of her mental fitness, according to a three-judge special circuit committee.

Jul 25, 2024 12:07 PM CDT

Lawyer gets stayed suspension after response to one-star review; is ‘offensive personality’ a violation?

An Indiana lawyer has received a 30-day stayed suspension in an ethics case that raised this issue: Can a lawyer be sanctioned for an “offensive personality”?

Jul 24, 2024 9:21 AM CDT

Judge who threatened to shoot Black teens for trespassing should be ousted, judicial conduct commission says

A judge in Oneida County, New York, should be removed from the bench for “truly egregious” misconduct during a July 2022 high school graduation party outside a friend’s home, according to the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Jul 23, 2024 1:32 PM CDT

Judges often preside over cases with ties to families’ interests, new investigation finds

Many judges do not disclose when cases intersect with the financial interests of their families or recuse themselves from those cases, according to an investigation released by ProPublica.

Jul 19, 2024 9:30 AM CDT

Federal prosecutor facing discipline for altering video evidence against anti-Trump protesters

A federal prosecutor who allegedly edited videos to use as evidence in criminal cases involving anti-Trump protesters in 2017 is now facing disciplinary charges.

Jul 18, 2024 8:30 AM CDT

California attorney faces disbarment over claims he misappropriated $282M in client funds

A southern California attorney could be disbarred following accusations he stole up to $282 million from as many as 60,000 clients.

Jul 17, 2024 1:15 PM CDT

Federal judges weigh need for new guidance after clerk accused of racist statements

The federal judiciary is considering new ethical guidelines for law clerk hiring, according to a report released on Friday.

Jul 16, 2024 2:45 PM CDT

Lawyer once named most eligible bachelor sentenced to at least 5 years in prison for rape

A Boston lawyer who was once named one of People magazine’s most eligible bachelors was sentenced Monday to between five and 10 years in prison for raping a 21-year-old woman.

Jul 16, 2024 11:15 AM CDT

NY judge suspended while facing felony DUI charge

A New York judge who was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence with a child in her vehicle has been suspended with pay.

Jul 15, 2024 3:15 PM CDT

Judge presiding over Young Thug trial ordered off the case

The judge overseeing the criminal racketeering case against Young Thug was formally removed from the case Monday amid complaints he and prosecutors held an improper meeting with a key prosecution witness.

Jul 15, 2024 3:06 PM CDT

Former attorney who used fake IDs to get jobs pleads guilty to federal fraud charges

A disbarred attorney who practiced law in the Cincinnati area has pleaded guilty to fraud as part of a long-running scheme to obtain jobs at numerous law firms.

Jul 15, 2024 9:35 AM CDT

Democratic lawmakers seek criminal investigation of Justice Thomas

Two Democratic U.S. senators have announced that they are seeking a criminal investigation of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas over gifts of travel, a loan for a recreational vehicle and other benefits he received from wealthy benefactors.

Jul 10, 2024 3:00 PM CDT

Federal judge who banned female prosecutor from his courtroom won’t face discipline after giving up cases

A federal judge who banned a female prosecutor from his courtroom and made alleged “disparaging remarks” about female attorneys won’t face discipline for his actions.

Jul 10, 2024 9:18 AM CDT

Federal judge who abruptly resigned had been referred for possible impeachment recommendation

A federal judge in Alaska abruptly announced his resignation last week after a determination that he had “no filter” in conversations with his law clerks, had “no hesitation” in using inappropriate language, and had a “sexualized relationship” with a law clerk.

Jul 9, 2024 2:30 PM CDT

Lawyer who sued Big Lots over coffee labeling has ‘dubious modus operandi,’ federal judge says

A lawyer who alleged that retail chain company Big Lots used labeling that inflated the number of servings in cans of its Fresh Finds coffee had made a similar claim in a prior tossed lawsuit that was “indistinguishable” from the new case “but for a new plaintiff and heading,” according to a federal judge in Florida.

Jul 9, 2024 9:28 AM CDT