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Conflict of Interest Is Raised in N.S.A. Ruling
NY Times' Terrorist Tip Sheet ^ | August 23, 2006 | ERIC LICHTBLAU (Terrorist Tipper)

Posted on 08/22/2006 10:24:54 PM PDT by neverdem

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 — The federal judge who ruled last week that President Bush’s eavesdropping program was unconstitutional is a trustee and an officer of a group that has given at least $125,000 to the American Civil Liberties Union in Michigan, a watchdog group said Tuesday.

The group, Judicial Watch, a conservative organization here that found the connection, said the link posed a possible conflict for the judge, Anna Taylor Diggs, and called for further investigation.

“The system relies on judges to exercise good judgment, and we need more information and more explanation about what the court’s involvement was in support of the A.C.L.U.,” said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, which gained attention in the 1990’s for ethics accusations against President Bill Clinton.

Three legal ethicists interviewed said although Judge Taylor’s role as a trustee for a supporter of the civil liberties group would not necessarily disqualify her from hearing the case, she should have probably disclosed the connection in court to avoid any appearance of a conflict.

“It certainly would have been prudent” to notify the parties in the case, including the Justice Department, about the issue, said Steven Lubet, a law professor at Northwestern University and an author of “Judicial Conduct and Ethics.”

“I don’t think there’s a clear answer as to whether she should have disqualified herself,” Professor Lubet said. “But at a minimum, she should have disclosed it.”

In a case brought by the national organization of the A.C.L.U. and its Michigan chapter, among others, Judge Taylor ruled that the surveillance by the National Security Agency without warrants that was approved after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks violated the Constitution and a 1978 surveillance law.

The Justice Department moved immediately to appeal Judge Taylor’s ruling.

Some legal experts saw the decision as an important affirmation...

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: District of Columbia; US: Michigan; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: aclu; annadiggs; annataylordiggs; corruption; diggs; judicialwatch; judiciary; nsa; scotus
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1 posted on 08/22/2006 10:24:55 PM PDT by neverdem
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To: potlatch; neverdem






2 posted on 08/22/2006 10:29:11 PM PDT by devolve (fx 9125_AMERICANS_KILLED_2003_BY_ILLEGALS MEX_ILLEGAL_GOT_911_TERRORISTS_ID NO_NUEVO_TEJAS)
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To: neverdem

It would seem to me that this test could be applied to every ACLU case in which SCOTUS Justice Ginsberg presided as well.


3 posted on 08/22/2006 10:29:52 PM PDT by Mad_Tom_Rackham (John Bolton for Secretary of State)
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To: neverdem
Three legal ethicists interviewed said although Judge Taylor’s role as a trustee for a supporter of the civil liberties group would not necessarily disqualify her from hearing the case, she should have probably disclosed the connection in court to avoid any appearance of a conflict.

You betcha she should have

4 posted on 08/22/2006 10:30:03 PM PDT by Mo1 (Bolton- "No one has explained how you negotiate a ceasefire with terrorists")
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To: Mo1


Bump and Wow!


5 posted on 08/22/2006 10:31:52 PM PDT by onyx (1 Billion Muslims -- "if" only 10% are radical, that's 100 Million who want to kill us.)
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To: devolve

Oh my - too funny! Looks like the start of a marathon.

And - some can just hang on to her tail!!!


6 posted on 08/22/2006 10:32:53 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: neverdem
Amazing they're even mentioning this in the Times. Pinch must be on vacation.
7 posted on 08/22/2006 10:33:12 PM PDT by JennysCool (Roll out the Canarble Wagon!)
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: neverdem

To the MSM, conflicts of interest, partisanship, croneyism are only important if these occur among Republicans. It is very rare for it to be reported as in this situation.


9 posted on 08/22/2006 10:41:23 PM PDT by CedarDave (RIP Coast Guard Lt. Jessica Hill & Petty Officer 2nd Class Steven Duque, died in Arctic service 8/16)
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To: neverdem

Memorialized in song -- http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1688416/posts


10 posted on 08/22/2006 10:44:57 PM PDT by doug from upland (Stopping Hillary should be a FreeRepublic Manhattan Project)
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To: neverdem
Bttt.

5.56mm

11 posted on 08/22/2006 10:47:09 PM PDT by M Kehoe
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To: potlatch



12 posted on 08/22/2006 10:49:16 PM PDT by devolve (fx 9125_AMERICANS_KILLED_2003_BY_ILLEGALS MEX_ILLEGAL_GOT_911_TERRORISTS_ID NO_NUEVO_TEJAS)
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To: devolve

Works pretty good! Yours is brighter and sharper but it looks OK!


13 posted on 08/22/2006 10:52:38 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: neverdem
The Times is throwing her a life ring. Rather than have this case thrown out with a precedent setting ruling on its legal merits, they want it dumped upon a question of procedure!

Bastards. Now they'll find another liberal judge to repeat the whole story for a whole new news cycle, and add more bogus legal agreement around their preferred and twisted interpretation.

14 posted on 08/22/2006 10:53:46 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (There are people in power who are truly evil.)
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To: neverdem

Go Tom!


15 posted on 08/22/2006 10:55:22 PM PDT by ConservativeMind
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To: potlatch


they reduced size

about 400x300 or close

G-W does that well

I-M often messes it up

At only 215K I could easily resize it a G-W first


--








16 posted on 08/22/2006 11:01:18 PM PDT by devolve (fx 9125_AMERICANS_KILLED_2003_BY_ILLEGALS MEX_ILLEGAL_GOT_911_TERRORISTS_ID NO_NUEVO_TEJAS)
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To: devolve

There is quite a difference in the text clarity though devolve.


17 posted on 08/22/2006 11:04:37 PM PDT by potlatch (Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
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To: neverdem
"Three legal ethicists interviewed said although Judge Taylor’s role as a trustee for a supporter of the civil liberties group would not necessarily disqualify her from hearing the case, she should have probably disclosed the connection in court to avoid any appearance of a conflict."

Conflict? What conflict? /s

18 posted on 08/22/2006 11:18:14 PM PDT by sageb1 (This is the Final Crusade. There are only 2 sides. Pick one.)
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To: potlatch


Yup

I saw that

Funny how different software alters things


19 posted on 08/22/2006 11:25:08 PM PDT by devolve (fx 9125_AMERICANS_KILLED_2003_BY_ILLEGALS MEX_ILLEGAL_GOT_911_TERRORISTS_ID NO_NUEVO_TEJAS)
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To: neverdem
The group, Judicial Watch...

and their involvement ensure that this story will die a quick, painless death.

20 posted on 08/22/2006 11:26:08 PM PDT by WhistlingPastTheGraveyard (wikipedia lies)
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