Free Republic

Perhaps the pressure of the Traficant trial had taken its toll. Or, perhaps she simply didn't want to be viewed as someone who shows no mercy. Whatever the reason, U.S. District Judge Lesley Brooks Wells blew it in the James R. Sabatine Sr. case. Wells, who was admirably dispassionate throughout the criminal trial of then-U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr., was almost apologetic the other day when she sentenced Sabatine. The Canfield businessman has admitted that he engaged in a pattern of racketeering between June 1993 and December 1999 and filed a false tax return for 1994. He understated his...

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal judges usually police one another's behavior, but they rarely mete out punishment. Of 766 ethical complaints lodged last year, only one resulted in a penalty. Federal judges have lifetime appointments, and only Congress can remove them from office. Other forms of punishment come at the discretion of fellow federal judges. In the single case last year in which the judge was punished, the penalty was a private censure and no details — not even the judge's name — were released. The system encourages lenient treatment, American University law professor Paul Rice said Tuesday. "They have an...

Click HERE to read the Acrobat Reader Document showing the reasons why Judge Lesley Wells recused herself.