Category Archives: conflict of interest laws

“Reciprocity, Denial, and the Appearance of Impropriety: Why Self-Recusal Cannot Remedy the Influence of Campaign Contributions on Judges’ Decisions”

August 29, 2011, 7:02 amcampaign finance, campaigns, conflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Tom Susman has posted this draft on SSRN (Journal of Law and Politics). Here is the abstract: The system of privately financed elections of judges in most states across the country has long been controversial, with both the scholarship and… Continue reading

“Government Ethics and Bailouts: The Past, Present, and Future”

August 26, 2011, 4:26 pmconflict of interest laws, ethics investigations, legislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Great looking symposium in the Minnesota Law Review.

“Edwards Seeks Trial Delay”

August 24, 2011, 7:45 pmcampaign finance, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

The Raleigh News and Observer reports.

“Heller Says Judge Should Have Disclosed Amodei Business Relationship”

August 24, 2011, 8:04 amconflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Nevada News Bureau: “Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nevada, says he wishes the judge who ruled in the second congressional special election case had disclosed business interests he shared with Republican candidate Mark Amodei.”

Justice Prosser Won’t Recuse in Campaign Finance Case in Which One Side is Represented by His Recount Attorney

August 23, 2011, 8:52 amcampaign finance, conflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

Here.

Should Justice Prosser Have Recused Himself in Voting on the Wisconsin Collective Bargaining Case?

August 22, 2011, 10:22 amcampaigns, conflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

That’s one of the arguments made in this NY Times editorial. I disagree with the Times board on this issue. If we are to have judicial elections at all, they are so that there is some measure of accountability of… Continue reading

“A Recusal Required”

August 18, 2011, 9:37 pmconflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel offers this editorial. It begins: ‘Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser should recuse himself from a case pending before the high court involving a lawyer whose firm did work for the justice during an expensive recount… Continue reading

“Supreme Court Ethics And Reviewing The Health Law”

August 17, 2011, 9:42 pmconflict of interest laws, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Part 2 of Nina Totenberg’s NPR report. This one mentions Caperton.

Here’s a Way for the City of Vernon to Avoid State Dissolution and Absorption by LA County: Incur Half a Billion Dollars in Debt

August 16, 2011, 8:23 pmchicanery, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

Holy cow.

“Bill Puts Ethics Spotlight On Supreme Court Justices”

August 16, 2011, 8:22 amconflict of interest laws, Supreme CourtRick Hasen

Nina Totenberg reports for NPR.

BNA: Tom DeLay Arguing CU Should Get Him Off the Hook for His Money Laundering Conviction

August 15, 2011, 7:17 pmcampaign finance, conflict of interest lawsRick Hasen

BNA: The conviction of former U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) on conspiracy and money laundering charges was unconstitutional, his attorneys contend in a brief filed with a state appeals court Aug. 11 (DeLay v. TexasTex. App., 3d… Continue reading

Extensive Must-Read NYT Article on Rep. Issa’s Business Interests

August 14, 2011, 7:14 pmconflict of interest laws, ethics investigations, legislation and legislaturesRick Hasen

Lichtblau: Most wealthy members of Congress push their financial activities to the side, with many even placing them in blind trusts to avoid appearances of conflicts of interest. But Mr. Issa (pronounced EYE-suh), one of Washington’s richest lawmakers, may… Continue reading

“ABA urges clear rules on judicial recusal”

August 9, 2011, 7:29 amconflict of interest laws, judicial electionsRick Hasen

The National Law Journal reports.

House and Senate Working on “Honest Services” Amendment

August 4, 2011, 9:26 ambribery, conflict of interest laws, legislation and legislaturesDan Tokaji

BNA reports here ($) that “[t]he Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced new legislation to close gaps in federal anti-corruption laws created by recent court decisions, and key Senate lawmakers said they now are working closely with their House colleagues to… Continue reading