Posted on 07/18/2006 12:21:57 PM PDT by RWR8189
A leading House Republican has taken the first step toward impeachment proceedings against a federal judge in California who's been accused of misconduct.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., introduced a resolution to allow his committee to investigate U.S. District Judge Manuel Real, who's served on the federal bench in Los Angeles since 1966. The committee would then consider whether impeachment proceedings are warranted, Sensenbrenner said.
Real, 82, allegedly seized control of a bankruptcy case involving a defendant he knew, then allowed the defendant to live rent-free for years in a house she'd been ordered to vacate.
A national federal judicial discipline committee ruled 3-2 in April that it could not sanction Real because the chief judge of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not properly investigate the complaint.
"When the judicial branch has failed to address serious allegations of judicial misconduct, as the 9th Circuit arguably has in this matter, the Constitution provides the Congress only one course of action: opening an impeachment inquiry," Sensenbrenner said in a statement.
He said such a step would come only after "a fair, thorough and detailed investigation."
A phone message left Tuesday at Real's chambers was not immediately returned.
Federal judges, who are appointed for life, are subject to the same type of impeachment proceedings as presidents: impeachment by the House of Representatives, then trial and conviction by the Senate.
Thirteen federal judges have been impeached over the years, according to the Federal Judicial Center. The first was in 1803, when John Pickering, serving in the District of New Hampshire, was impeached on charges of mental instability and intoxication on the bench.
Most recently, Alcee L. Hastings of the Southern District of Florida was impeached in 1989 on charges of perjury and conspiring to solicit a bribe. The same year, Walter L. Nixon of the Southern District of Mississippi was impeached on perjury charges. Both were convicted by the Senate and removed from office.
Hastings is now a Democratic congressman from Florida.
It must be a case of dementia - this guy's been on the bench since 1966 ?
"Hastings is now a Democratic congressman from Florida."
I just don't understand why an 'impeached' judge is allowed to run for a Congressional seat.
'Conflict of Interest' would seem to be a disqualifier to become a Congressman.
"Hastings is now a Democratic congressman from Florida."
Why am I not surprised?
Hastings is a black Democrat. He is a thug and a crook (but I repeat myself). Even though he was thrown off the federal court, the Supreme Court has ruled in the matter of Adam Clayton Powell that if the people of a district want to elect a crook (my word) the Consitution grants them that right.
When a people of a district lack civic virtue, and wish to have a crook represent them there's nothing any institution may do.
That the ninth circuit could not clean up its own house is no surprise. It's the same appellate district that ruled "Under God" in the Pledge was an establishment of religion and would have to go.
These are not the brightest light bulbs on the sign.
Why am I not surprised,,,,,
The 9th circuit of incompetence.
"When a people of a district lack civic virtue, and wish to have a crook represent them there's nothing any institution may do. "
Sad that people just don't seem to know what 'virtue' is anymore.
When he was impeached he could have been barred from olding any other federal office at the same time, but Congress decided not to.
Sickening. To say the least!
Hastings may not be able to vote in elections but can vote in Congress? Says a lot.
Actually, Hastings was not convicted of the crime. I believe he was charged with taking drug payoffs to allow certain dealers to go free. So he can still vote.
For some reason, I think on a technicality, his case was thrown out of court; but the Senate did convict him in his impeachment trial.
The NAACP and other black groups called it "racism".
Gotta wonder why Pelosi didn't appoint Hastings to the House Judicial Committee. Afterall, he does have all that judicial experience. :)
Even she's not that dumb. But I'll tell you something, if she had appointed him to a position like that, the MSM would have ignored it.
It was not a technicality; he was acquitted by the jury.
We have a federal judge in Texas who is the bane of the state. He was appointed by LBJ and ever since has continued to wreak liberal havoc on our state.
this guy is 82. I don't think he really cares anymore. :dunno:
Couple of quotes on the judge and his young thing:
"Deborah M. Canter, who pleaded guilty in April 1999 to one count of loan fraud and three counts of making false statements. Real sentenced Canter, who was 42 at the time of her plea, to five years' probation and community service and put her under his personal supervision, meaning that he met with her and her probation officer at 120-day intervals. Two months before Canter pleaded guilty, she and her husband, Gary — a member of the family that owns Canter's Deli on Fairfax Avenue — had separated. "
"complaint initially went to Schroeder, as chief judge of the 9th Circuit, who dismissed it. In last week's order, Schroeder explained that she did not appoint a special committee to investigate the alleged misconduct because the complaint consisted of a "suggestion of a salacious motivation" on behalf of the district judge. ... the 9th Circuit's 10-member Judicial Council found other evidence of wrongdoing - including an indication that Real had improper ex parte communication with Canter"
"Ex parte" and "let's party": after a couple drinks anyone could confuse the two.
A young divorcee was involved? I should have guessed . . .
Great Zinger !
This kind of behavior should have been handled by the conference, not impeachment. The guy is past his time to go.
Chief judge of the ninth circuit Schroeder is the one who should be impeached for her arrogant imcompetence in his case.
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