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Published byIrene Russell Modified over 9 years ago
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SOURCES OF RULES ABA Model Code of Judicial Conduct 1990 version (supplement) Canon 3: Impartiality and Diligence 3(E): Disqualification (duty to recuse) 3(F): Remittal of Disqualification 3(B)(9): Public statements 2008 version (supplement) Rule 2.11: Disqualification (duty to recuse) Rule 2.10: Judicial Statements Procedure: duty to recuse or invite remittal (waiver), party can make motion, judge decides
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Sources c’t’d Federal Statutes on Disqualification 28 U.S.C. s. 144: right of party to disqualify for personal bias or prejudice affidavit alleging bias against party or prejudice -- only one per party! duty of judge to recuse w/o inquiry into truth of affidavit 28 U.S.C. 455: grounds for disqualification, duty to recuse or invite waiver, party can move, judge rules on motion
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Problem pp. 388-90 Judge Whynne’s statement in public lecture that “there is no such thing as ‘discriminatory prosecution’” in criminal cases; you consider this as a defense in this case “impartiality might reasonably be questioned”? “personal bias or prejudice concerning a party”? (before 1999 was only specified possibility) “commits or appears to commit the judge to reach a particular result or rule in a particular way in the proceeding”? (2008 Rule 2.11(A)(5) – cf. 1990 Canon 3(E)(1)(f) (added 1999) – cf. Laird v. Tatum, n2 p. 399 “commitment … inconsistent with the impartial performance of adjudicative duties”? (2008 Rule 2.10(B), 1990 Canon 3(B)(10))
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Problem pp. 388-90 c’t’d Purpose of D’s document theft was to expose Senator Thompson, who was judge’s law partner and whose campaign for senate was managed by judge, and who proposed judge for appointment “personal bias or prejudice concerning a party”? “personal knowledge of disputed facts”? “appearance of impropriety”, 2008 Rule 1.2 or 1990 Canon 2(A)?
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Problem pp. 388-90 c’t’d Angie Doyle as a government witness at trial, was Senator’s adm. asst. and alleged to have been a co-conspirator Personal bias or prejudice? what if the judge had hired Angie in the first place, when she was Thompson’s campaign mgr., and had worked closely with Angie? general standard, impartiality might be questioned?
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Problem pp. 388-90 c’t’d As state judge, Whynne had tried a libel action against D, and found that his accusation against P was “wholly without foundation” and “obviously animated by malicious intent to injure” P “personal bias or prejudice”? cf. Liteky, p. 390: what is the “extrajudicial source doctrine”? cf. Reeter, n. 5 p. 402
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What procedures to follow? Motion to disqualify privileged motion? federal: s. 144, and Sykes, p. 404 – on what ground was recusal denied? state rules like Missouri’s: “change of judge” – how does that differ from the federal? if not privileged, who decides? Remittal or Waiver – what potential problems? Does the Code avoid them?
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Problem c’t’d Your firm has hired one of Judge Whynne’s clerks, and is currently negotiating with a present clerk conflict of interest for the firm? former clerk? current clerk? For the judge?
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Caperton v. A.T. Massey Coal Co.(U.S. 6/8/09) Caperton and others sued Massey for fraud, j/Ps $50mil After verdict but before appeal to state S.Ct., elections for ct. were held, and Massey’s chairman supported challenger Benjamin against incumbent, contrib. $3 mil., 50+% of all expenditures for Benj., Benj. won narrowly and took seat Massey appealed, Ps moved to recuse Benj., he denied because he wasn’t influenced. B voted for M., wrote conc. Held violation of DP, extreme circumstances gave rise to intolerable doubts about judge’s ability to be fair and impartial; proof of actual bias not required 5-4, ideological split, Kennedy writing maj. op. w/ libs
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