U.S. District Judge Who Presided Over Government Wiretapping ... Conflict of Interest

Chronwatch ^ | Tuesday, August 22, 2006 | Judicial Watch

[IrishMike]

Judge Anna Diggs Taylor Serves as Secretary and Trustee of Foundation that donated funds to ACLU of Michigan, a Plaintiff in the Case

Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and judicial abuse, announced today that Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who last week ruled the government’s warrantless wiretapping program unconstitutional, serves as a Secretary and Trustee for a foundation that donated funds to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, a plaintiff in the case ACLU et al. v. National Security Agency. Judicial Watch discovered the potential conflict of interest after reviewing Judge Diggs Taylor’s financial disclosure statements, available on Judicial Watch’s Internet Site, www.judicialwatch.org.

According to her 2003 and 2004 financial disclosure statements, Judge Diggs Taylor served as Secretary and Trustee for the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSEM). She was reelected to this position in June 2005. The official CFSEM website states that the foundation made a “recent grant” of $45,000 over two years to the ACLU of Michigan, a plaintiff in the wiretapping case. Judge Diggs Taylor sided with the ACLU of Michigan in her recent decision.

According to the CFSEM website, “The Foundation’s trustees make all funding decisions at meetings held on a quarterly basis.”

“This potential conflict of interest merits serious investigation,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “If Judge Diggs Taylor failed to disclose this link to a plaintiff in a case before her court, it would certainly call into question her judgment.”

(Judge Diggs Taylor is also the presiding judge in another case where she may have a conflict of interest. The Arab Community Center for Social and Economic Services (ACCESS) is a defendant in another case now before Judge Diggs Taylor’s court [Case No. 06-10968 (Mich. E.D.)]. In 2003, the CFSEM donated $180,000 to ACCESS.)

[zendari]

Oh right. It was Roberts and the Hamdan case. Roberts had a "conflict of interest" because he was interviewing for a job that didn't exist yet (there was no vacancy at the time).

[thoughtomator]

Impeachment time!

Oh, never mind, it would have to be introduced by a Congressman with cojones.

[IrishMike]

Judicial Watch discovered the potential conflict of interest
POTENTIAL ???????

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Excellent observation

[IrishMike]

But we need to know what can be done.

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An earlier post suggested the link be sent to Rush / Fox.

[IrishMike]

I think it was Roberts, investing in a fund, later they claimed he should have rescued himself from, because he owned shares in a company, one of many the fund had as holdings.
Same with Alito (I believe) ...
he had to rescue himself from the decision (last month)
in the terrorist case where the Supremes decided terrorists get lawyers, because he had struck it down on an earlier circuit case, which was the one being appealed.

[IrishMike]

Oh, never mind, it would have to be introduced by a Congressman with cojones.
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I wonder if DOJ can investigate conflicts with regards Federal Judges ?
In new York City they lock up / fine city judges on a regular basis.
That reverse DRat culture of corruption thing.

[IrishMike]

Wiretapping Case Judge has Possible Conflict of Interest

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=71068
Wiretapping Case Judge has Possible Conflict of Interest

8/22/2006 10:42:00 AM

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To: National Desk

Contact: Jill Farrell of Judicial Watch, 202-646-5188 or jfarrell@judicialwatch.org

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Judicial Watch, the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption and judicial abuse, announced today that Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who last week ruled the government's warrantless wiretapping program unconstitutional, serves as a secretary and trustee for a foundation that donated funds to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, a plaintiff in the case ACLU et al. v. National Security Agency. Judicial Watch discovered the potential conflict of interest after reviewing Judge Diggs Taylor's financial disclosure statements, available on Judicial Watch's Internet Site, http://www.judicialwatch.org

According to her 2003 and 2004 financial disclosure statements, Judge Diggs Taylor served as secretary and trustee for the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSEM). She was re-elected to this position in June 2005. The official CFSEM website states that the foundation made a "recent grant" of $45,000 over two years to the ACLU of Michigan, a plaintiff in the wiretapping case. Judge Diggs Taylor sided with the ACLU of Michigan in her recent decision.

According to the CFSEM website, "The Foundation's trustees make all funding decisions at meetings held on a quarterly basis."

"This potential conflict of interest merits serious investigation," said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. "If Judge Diggs Taylor failed to disclose this link to a plaintiff in a case before her court, it would certainly call into question her judgment."

Judge Diggs Taylor is also the presiding judge in another case where she may have a conflict of interest. The Arab Community Center for Social and Economic Services (ACCESS) is a defendant in another case now before Judge Diggs Taylor's court (Case No. 06-10968 (Mich. E.D.)). In 2003, the CFSEM donated $180,000 to ACCESS.

[talleyman]

Wonder what they (NYT) will say now.

"I see no-thing!"

[Jay777]

Thank you. Posted at Stop The ACLU now!

[Sun]

bump for truth!

[gidget7]

Wonder if judicial watch watches over state supreme courts. They are loaded with conflict of interest judges.

[b4its2late]

Break out the popcorn.

K...

[PajamaTruthMafia]

[AnimalLover]

Judge Anna Diggs Taylor, who last week ruled the government’s warrantless wiretapping program unconstitutional, serves as a Secretary and Trustee for a foundation that donated funds to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan, a plaintiff in the case ACLU et al. v. National Security Agency. Judicial Watch discovered the potential conflict of interest after reviewing Judge Diggs Taylor’s financial disclosure statements

What part of "Conflict of Interest" doesn't she understand?

[CurlyBill]

Judge Anna Diggs Taylor is an activist for the

Surrender Party

[CurlyBill]

Add Marshall Applewhite at the end of that lineup!

[CurlyBill]

[NRA2BFree]

Well, how about that!! Liberals are the most despicable people on the face of the earth. What arrogance to think that she wouldn't be found out.

[Homer1]

Thye were on Alito because he had a Vanguard mutual fund, and ruled on a case involving Vanguard. Of course, the fund was only managed by Vanguard, so he had no money invested directly in Vanguard, so the complaint was kind of dumb.