High Court Review Sought on Judicial Recusal
Fair Courts E-lert
Bibliographic Info:
Author: Marcia Coyle
Source: The Legal Times
Date: 08/04/2008
Article reports that "the ethical hornets' nest stirred up by the refusal of an acting West Virginia chief justice to recuse himself" presents the question as to whether there needs to be a line drawn somewhere "to prevent a judge from hearing cases involving a person who has made massive campaign contributions to benefit the judge." Professor Amanda Frost of American University Washington College of Law states that, an "impartial decision-maker is the most important aspect of due process." Richard E. Flamm, chairman of the Bar Association of San Francisco Ethics Committee, added that "[a] lot of reasonable observers would find it difficult to believe a judge could sit in judgment of person who had given that amount as a campaign contribution without blinking an eye."