Conflict of Interest Is Raised in N.S.A. Ruling

NY Times' Terrorist Tip Sheet ^ | August 23, 2006 | ERIC LICHTBLAU (Terrorist Tipper)

[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...

[right-wingin_It]

Yikes..are those painted clown eyebrows??

[Chode]

BIG COURT STRIKES AGAIN!!!

[Prokopton]

"The group, Judicial Watch...
and their involvement ensure that this story will die a quick, painless death."



If it wasn't for Judicial watch you wouldn't be reading about this now. If a FReeper would have discovered this conflict you would be celebrating them now as a hero. Give credit where credit is due.

[Edgerunner]

Memorialized in song
Immortalized in song!

[massgopguy]

Well, it seems that this hack judge's husband was a corrupt congressman who did time for shaking down constituents.

[mo]

Can any legal eagles define a conspiracy between this judge and the ACLU to deprive American citizens otheir right to self-defense....

[Libertarian444]

I see JW is back to being called a "conservative" group. Too funny.

http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/2002/cyb20020711.asp#1

When Judicial Watch was suing Clinton administration officials the networks, on the rare occasions when they deigned to even mention the group, made sure viewers realized it was “conservative.” But when the organization run by Larry Klayman filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Vice President Dick Cheney, it suddenly became a non-ideological “watchdog group,” “Washington watchdog group,” “legal group,” “legal activist group” or “legal advocacy group.”

[Redbob]

"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."

One

Two

Three:
No Shit Sherlock!