[SeekAndFind]

Let's recap: It appears the judge in this case, Lewis A. Kaplan, worked with Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, and officiated at her wedding. Carroll’s other lawyer was also a law clerk for Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. That Lewis Kaplan didn’t reveal these conflicts of interest is enough for him to face major consequences, but clearly, he should have recused himself from the case.

The judge ought to publicly confirm or deny the association.

[Pontiac]

This judge should be impeached, removed from office and disbarred.

But as he is a judge in New York State it will never happen.

[thegagline]

It is difficult to get a Judge to recuse himself. The legal community is somewhat incestuous. For example, judges aren't conflicted out due to lawyers appearing before them who contributed to their election campaigns. I literally worked on a Judge's campaign responding to political, union, and business groups surveys which led to endorsements and donations and the Judge didn't recuse themselves when I appeared before her.

The law firm in question, Paul, Weiss, Rifkin, Wharton & Garrison currently has over a thousand attorneys. In that Plaintiff's counsel may have worked with the Judge over 30 years ago probably isn't enough to conflict out the Judge.

[hardspunned]

I believe I read last week the judge hack was quoted as saying, “I barely knew him”.

[nikos1121]

I think he co-officated at the other attorney’s wedding.

[Dr. Franklin]

Let's recap: It appears the judge in this case, Lewis A. Kaplan, worked with Carroll’s lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, and officiated at her wedding. Carroll’s other lawyer was also a law clerk for Judge Lewis A. Kaplan. That Lewis Kaplan didn’t reveal these conflicts of interest is enough for him to face major consequences, but clearly, he should have recused himself from the case. The judge ought to publicly confirm or deny the association.

Being in the same law firm as an attorney for one side is disqualifying. Having a former law clerk as an attorney isn't, but when combined with the first problem, it just amplifies that problem