Tuesday, February 15, 2011

TPJ today commended New York State’s decision to bar that state’s elected judges from hearing cases involving significant campaign contributors (lawyers or parties who have given the judge at least $2,500 over the previous two-years). The new rule by New York’s Administrative Board of the Courts is thought to be the most restrictive measure of its kind. Recently Michigan, Washington and Oklahoma have adopted judicial-recusal standards.
TPJ Lauds New York's Move to Get Money Out of Courts

TPJ today commended New York State’s decision to bar that state’s elected judges from hearing cases involving significant campaign contributors (lawyers or parties who have given the judge at least $2,500 over the previous two-years). The new rule by New York’s Administrative Board of the Courts is thought to be the most restrictive measure of its kind. Recently Michigan, Washington and Oklahoma have adopted judicial-recusal standards.

“Texas needs to take the ‘for sale’ sign off its courtrooms and adopt its own recusal standard,” said Craig McDonald, director of the non-partisan, research and advocacy organization. “The public doesn’t believe that judges who take money from people in their courtroom are impartial.”

TPJ supports legislation filed by Rep. Richard Raymond (H.B. 156). It would require Supreme Court and Texas Court of Criminal Appeals justices to recuse themselves from cases involving significant campaign contributors (lawyers, law firms or parties who gave a judge at least $2,500 over the previous four years).