Sunday, January 2, 2011

For Judges, Inconsistent Use of Ethics Rule is Evident

The nation's top federal judicial ethics panel told a judge in Maryland five years ago that his membership on the board of an anti-regulatory group violated two canons of ethics, provoking his immediate resignation from the board. But the authority's opinion was not published until this month and three other federal judges - including one of the nation's 13 circuit court chief justices - presently sit on the same group's board.

The episode, which involves judges' ties to a controversial Montana-based group that also sponsors judicial education seminars, has cast a spotlight on what critics say is the private and sometimes inconsistent application of ethics rules for the federal judiciary, which they say could open the door to abuses.

Full Article and Source:
For Judges, Inconsistent Use of Ethics Rule is Evident

See Also:
Porteous Removed

4 comments:

Pat said...

The veil of secrecy on judicial grievances needs to be lifted.

Judges will all behave more ethical if they know their unethical behavior won't be protected.

Tom said...

The ethics rules are so open-ended, judges can almost justify their misconduct.

Thelma said...

Judges should not have any such relationships unless they want their impartiality questioned.

Anonymous said...

Judges know there are ethics rules?!