Slippery Justice

[Bob]

The Associated Press: AP IMPACT: Many Gulf federal judges have oil links AP IMPACT: Many Gulf federal judges have oil links

By CURT ANDERSON (AP) ? 9 hours ago

MIAMI ? More than half of the federal judges in districts where the bulk of Gulf oil spill-related lawsuits are pending have financial connections to the oil and gas industry, complicating the task of finding judges without conflicts to hear the cases, an Associated Press analysis of judicial financial disclosure reports shows.

Thirty-seven of the 64 active or senior judges in key Gulf Coast districts in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida have links to oil, gas and related energy industries, including some who own stocks or bonds in BP PLC, Halliburton or Transocean ? and others who regularly list receiving royalties from oil and gas production wells, according to the reports judges must file each year. The AP reviewed 2008 disclosure forms, the most recent available ....you have to laugh at this!

 

[Bob]

BP, Big Oil Get Big Win From Judges Not Judging: Ann Woolner - Bloomberg Good news for BP Plc. and other oil, coal and chemical companies seeped out last week from New Orleans, barely noticed in the blanket coverage of the as-yet uncontrolled oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico.

Without having to prove they deserved to, the companies won a widely watched global warming lawsuit. If it weren?t for the unrelated disaster along the Gulf Coast, you would see more cheering about it from the energy sector.

The funny thing is that the companies won because appellate judges with conflicts of interest, presumably because of stock ownership, stepped off the case. Without a quorum the judges couldn?t consider the case, so they dismissed it.

The outrageous part is that three, un-conflicted judges on that same court had already ruled against the energy companies in the same case. But their opinion was nullified and is now dead, according to the court.

This isn?t the way the system is supposed to work. What happened is that the judges with conflicts of interest indirectly decided the case by saying they couldn?t decide the case. If they had wanted to use the case to boost stock value, they couldn?t have done a better job of it.

It?s tedious procedural stuff, but stay with me here. This is a perfect illustration of why federal judges should disclose their reasons for recusing themselves.

It?s also a powerful argument for requiring them to put their investments into blind trusts. Too many business cases get decided, not on the merits, but because judges own shares in companies that come before their courts.

 

[Geo]

Reason # 238394726162839 that the system is broken...

 

[DuneAHH]

Reason # 238394726162839 that the system is broken...

EXACTLY.
Apologies for screaming. It's so broken...

and all the kings horses and all the king's men, could not put humpty together again.

Enter Mother Nature (and commoners).

 

[Bob]

Corruptocracy

 

[sarawind]

The Associated Press: AP IMPACT: Many Gulf federal judges have oil links AP IMPACT: Many Gulf federal judges have oil links

By CURT ANDERSON (AP) – 9 hours ago

MIAMI — More than half of the federal judges in districts where the bulk of Gulf oil spill-related lawsuits are pending have financial connections to the oil and gas industry, complicating the task of finding judges without conflicts to hear the cases, an Associated Press analysis of judicial financial disclosure reports shows.

Thirty-seven of the 64 active or senior judges in key Gulf Coast districts in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida have links to oil, gas and related energy industries, including some who own stocks or bonds in BP PLC, Halliburton or Transocean — and others who regularly list receiving royalties from oil and gas production wells, according to the reports judges must file each year. The AP reviewed 2008 disclosure forms, the most recent available ....you have to laugh at this!

Judges aren't the only folks cozy with oil companies. From The Los Angeles Times:

The ties that bind. Remember Rahm Emanuel's rent-free D.C. apartment? The owner: A BP adviser
June 7, 2010 | 3:34 pm

In case you were tempted to buy the faux Washington outrage at BP and its gulf oil spill in recent days, here's a story that reveals a little-known corporate political connection and the quiet way the inner political circles intersect, protect and care for one another in the nation's capital. And Chicago.

We already knew that BP and its folks were significant contributors to the record $750-million war chest of Barack Obama's 2007-08 campaign.

Now, we learn the details of a connection of Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago mayoral wannabe, current Obama chief of staff, ex-representative, ex-Clinton money man and ex-Windy City political machine go-fer.

Shortly after Obama's happy inaugural, eyebrows rose slightly upon word that, as a House member, Emanuel had lived the last five years rent-free in a D.C. apartment of Democratic colleague Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and her husband, Stanley Greenberg.

For an ordinary American, that would likely raise some obvious tax liability questions. But like Emanuel, the guy overseeing the Internal Revenue Service now is another Obama insider, Tim Geithner, who had his own outstanding tax problems but skated through confirmation anyway by the Democratic-controlled Congress.

Remember this was all before the letters BP stood for Huge Mess. Even before the Obama administration gave BP a safety award.

Now follow these standard Washington links if you can:

Greenberg's consulting firm was a prime architect of BP's recent rebranding drive as a green petroleum company, down to green signs and the slogan "Beyond Petroleum."

Greenberg's company is also closely tied to a sister Democratic outfit -- GCS, named for the last initials of Greenberg, James Carville, another Clinton advisor, and Bob Shrum, John Kerry's 2004 campaign manager.

According to published reports, GCS received hundreds of thousands of dollars in political polling contracts in recent years from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Probably just a crazy coincidence. But you'll never guess who was the chairman of that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dispensing those huge polling contracts to his kindly rent-free landlord.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Judges aren't the only folks cozy with oil companies. From The Los Angeles Times:

The ties that bind. Remember Rahm Emanuel's rent-free D.C. apartment? The owner: A BP adviser
June 7, 2010 | 3:34 pm

In case you were tempted to buy the faux Washington outrage at BP and its gulf oil spill in recent days, here's a story that reveals a little-known corporate political connection and the quiet way the inner political circles intersect, protect and care for one another in the nation's capital. And Chicago.

We already knew that BP and its folks were significant contributors to the record $750-million war chest of Barack Obama's 2007-08 campaign.

Now, we learn the details of a connection of Rahm Emanuel, the Chicago mayoral wannabe, current Obama chief of staff, ex-representative, ex-Clinton money man and ex-Windy City political machine go-fer.

Shortly after Obama's happy inaugural, eyebrows rose slightly upon word that, as a House member, Emanuel had lived the last five years rent-free in a D.C. apartment of Democratic colleague Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut and her husband, Stanley Greenberg.

For an ordinary American, that would likely raise some obvious tax liability questions. But like Emanuel, the guy overseeing the Internal Revenue Service now is another Obama insider, Tim Geithner, who had his own outstanding tax problems but skated through confirmation anyway by the Democratic-controlled Congress.

Remember this was all before the letters BP stood for Huge Mess. Even before the Obama administration gave BP a safety award.

Now follow these standard Washington links if you can:

Greenberg's consulting firm was a prime architect of BP's recent rebranding drive as a green petroleum company, down to green signs and the slogan "Beyond Petroleum."

Greenberg's company is also closely tied to a sister Democratic outfit -- GCS, named for the last initials of Greenberg, James Carville, another Clinton advisor, and Bob Shrum, John Kerry's 2004 campaign manager.

According to published reports, GCS received hundreds of thousands of dollars in political polling contracts in recent years from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Probably just a crazy coincidence. But you'll never guess who was the chairman of that Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee dispensing those huge polling contracts to his kindly rent-free landlord.

How do you feel about politicians and this sort of thing? Taking money from oil and others? Conflict of interest? How do think politicians should handle that, like, say politicians in oil producing states?

PS..I read this article a few times and although cozy is not the word I would use for this, is it illegal to live rent free and do business in the same circles? Why would the IRS have a problem unless he claimed his rent?

 

[sarawind]

How do you feel about politicians and this sort of thing? Taking money from oil and others? Conflict of interest? How do think politicians should handle that, like, say politicians in oil producing states?

PS..I read this article a few times and although cozy is not the word I would use for this, is it illegal to live rent free and do business in the same circles? Why would the IRS have a problem unless he claimed his rent?

Rahm Emanuel is a millionaire and he lived rent free for five years. He did not declare this gift on his income tax returns as congressional rules mandate.

 

[Alicia Leonard]

Rahm Emanuel is a millionaire and he lived rent free for five years. He did not declare this gift on his income tax returns as congressional rules mandate.

"Accepting free rent from DeLauro may not have been a violation of House ethics rules, as long as Emanuel received a waiver from the House Standards Committee. He has not yet produced evidence of such a waive."

Conservatives Find Next Obama Tax Cheat in Rahm's Basement


Wow, this was back in Feb. Never thought of living in someone's home as undeclared income.

 

[sarawind]

How do you feel about politicians and this sort of thing? Taking money from oil and others? Conflict of interest? How do think politicians should handle that, like, say politicians in oil producing states?

People, corporations, PACs, want to buy access to politicians to influence them. This is an interesting list of the heavy-hitters. I was amazed that BP is 109 on the list.



HEAVY HITTERS
Top All-Time Donors, 1989-2010

View party split for:
LEGEND: Republican Democrat On the fence



= Between 40% and 59% to both parties
= Leans Dem/Repub (60%-69%)
= Strongly Dem/Repub (70%-89%)
= Solidly Dem/Repub (over 90%)
Rank Organization Total '89-'09 Dem % Repub % Tilt
1 AT&T Inc $44,939,504 44% 55%
2 American Fedn of State, County & Municipal Employees $42,582,261 98% 1%
3 National Assn of Realtors $36,258,773 48% 51%
4 Intl Brotherhood of Electrical Workers $31,985,445 97% 2%
5 American Assn for Justice $31,967,129 90% 8%
6 Goldman Sachs $31,837,427 63% 35%
7 National Education Assn $30,371,930 92% 6%
8 Laborers Union $29,255,050 92% 7%
9 Teamsters Union $28,339,684 93% 6%
10 Service Employees International Union $28,293,482 95% 3%
11 Carpenters & Joiners Union $28,024,933 89% 9%
12 American Federation of Teachers $27,464,891 98% 0%
13 Communications Workers of America $27,362,296 99% 0%
14 Citigroup Inc $27,301,168 50% 49%
15 American Medical Assn $26,358,705 39% 60%
16 United Auto Workers $26,241,902 98% 0%
17 Machinists & Aerospace Workers Union $25,403,277 98% 0%
18 National Auto Dealers Assn $24,679,658 32% 67%
19 United Parcel Service $24,482,514 36% 63%
20 United Food & Commercial Workers Union $24,456,633 98% 1%
21 Altria Group $24,104,416 27% 71%
22 American Bankers Assn $22,814,846 41% 58%
23 National Assn of Home Builders $22,385,155 36% 63%
24 EMILY's List $21,864,262 99% 0%
25 National Beer Wholesalers Assn $21,490,595 32% 67%
26 Microsoft Corp $20,528,373 53% 46%
27 JPMorgan Chase & Co $20,401,103 51% 48%
28 Time Warner $20,141,660 72% 27%
29 National Assn of Letter Carriers $19,796,434 88% 11%
30 Verizon Communications $19,012,426 40% 58%
31 Lockheed Martin $18,869,306 43% 56%
32 Morgan Stanley $18,809,351 45% 53%
33 General Electric $18,574,849 51% 48%
34 Pfizer Inc $18,539,929 29% 70%
35 AFL-CIO $18,283,596 95% 4%
36 FedEx Corp $18,135,841 40% 59%
37 Credit Union National Assn $17,759,678 48% 51%
38 Bank of America $17,525,168 47% 52%
39 National Rifle Assn $17,505,346 17% 82%
40 Ernst & Young $17,355,577 44% 55%
41 Sheet Metal Workers Union $17,048,813 97% 2%
42 Blue Cross/Blue Shield $16,916,604 40% 59%
43 American Dental Assn $16,845,029 46% 53%
44 Plumbers & Pipefitters Union $16,823,401 94% 5%
45 American Hospital Assn $16,791,979 53% 46%
46 International Assn of Fire Fighters $16,625,643 82% 17%
47 Operating Engineers Union $16,365,615 85% 14%
48 Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu $16,351,771 35% 64%
49 Air Line Pilots Assn $15,910,777 84% 15%
50 PricewaterhouseCoopers $15,858,930 37% 62%
51 UBS AG $15,729,624 40% 58%
52 AFLAC Inc $15,287,719 44% 55%
53 Natl Assn/Insurance & Financial Advisors $15,219,354 43% 56%
54 Boeing Co $14,542,163 47% 51%
55 Union Pacific Corp $14,463,448 25% 74%
56 Merrill Lynch $14,333,210 37% 61%
57 United Steelworkers $13,883,901 99% 0%
58 United Transportation Union $13,822,010 88% 10%
59 Reynolds American $13,475,552 24% 75%
60 Ironworkers Union $13,473,875 92% 7%
61 American Institute of CPAs $13,069,875 42% 57%
62 BellSouth Corp $12,993,782 45% 54%
63 Credit Suisse Group $12,779,752 44% 54%
65 National Rural Electric Cooperative Assn $12,324,371 51% 47%
66 American Postal Workers Union $12,285,973 95% 3%
67 General Dynamics $12,002,739 47% 52%
68 American Financial Group $11,486,855 18% 81%
69 GlaxoSmithKline $11,259,640 29% 70%
70 Walt Disney Co $11,047,327 67% 32%
71 Chevron $11,039,824 24% 75%
72 KPMG International $10,881,885 33% 66%
73 Exxon Mobil $10,856,793 14% 85%
74 National Air Traffic Controllers Assn $10,708,138 80% 19%
75 Natl Active & Retired Fed Employees Assn $10,558,000 77% 22%
76 Human Rights Campaign $10,168,827 90% 9%
77 MBNA Corp $10,059,006 17% 82%
78 UST Inc $9,938,811 21% 78%
79 Freddie Mac $9,878,290 43% 56%
80 Southern Co $9,869,244 31% 68%
81 National Restaurant Assn $9,839,545 16% 83%
82 AIG $9,738,962 50% 49%
83 Prudential Financial $9,600,149 48% 51%
84 MetLife Inc $9,579,442 55% 44%
85 American Academy of Ophthalmology $9,558,538 52% 47%
86 Wal-Mart Stores $9,460,485 26% 73%
87 American Health Care Assn $9,410,540 53% 45%
88 CSX Corp $9,330,329 32% 67%
89 General Motors $9,328,768 38% 60%
90 Eli Lilly & Co $9,308,416 29% 70%
91 National Cmte to Preserve Social Security & Medicare $9,306,857 80% 19%
92 American Maritime Officers $9,113,471 46% 53%
93 Associated General Contractors $9,048,191 14% 84%
94 National Cmte for an Effective Congress $8,707,940 99% 0%
95 Amway/Alticor Inc $8,641,471 0% 99%
96 Archer Daniels Midland $8,435,864 44% 55%
97 Seafarers International Union $8,407,144 84% 14%
98 American Airlines $8,269,091 47% 52%
99 MCI Inc $8,093,472 46% 53%
100 National Fedn of Independent Business $7,917,476 7% 92%
101 American Council of Life Insurers $7,765,552 37% 62%
102 Marine Engineers Beneficial Assn $7,454,877 74% 25%
103 Bristol-Myers Squibb $7,316,662 22% 77%
104 Enron Corp $6,546,585 29% 70%
105 Andersen $6,253,477 37% 62%
106 BP $6,212,279 29% 70%
107 Vivendi $4,626,040 66% 33%
Based on data released by the FEC on May 16, 2010.

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