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.
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For Judges, Inconsistent Use of Ethics Rule is Evident
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The veil of secrecy on judicial grievances needs to be lifted.
ReplyDeleteJudges will all behave more ethical if they know their unethical behavior won't be protected.
The ethics rules are so open-ended, judges can almost justify their misconduct.
ReplyDeleteJudges should not have any such relationships unless they want their impartiality questioned.
ReplyDeleteJudges know there are ethics rules?!
ReplyDelete