Litigation

Poll: Public Wants Firewall Between Judges, Election Backers

By Lissette Villarruel

An overwhelming percentage of U.S. adults believes that judges cannot be completely impartial and should not participate in cases that involve large campaign contributors, according to a Harris Interactive poll commissioned by Justice at Stake.  

The national poll, which was cited in a Charleston Gazette article, said that 81% of surveyed adults believe that judges also should not decide whether it is appropriate for them to take part in cases involving election supporters; instead, they said, another judge should determine if there is an appearance of bias.

These results are important on the eve of a Supreme Court case that will be heard  March 3. Caperton v. Massey is a recusal case in which Massey CEO Don Blankenship spent $3 million to help elect now-West Virginia Chief Justice Brent Benjamin. Benjamin then twice cast the deciding vote to overturn a $50 million lawsuit against the company. Despite repeated requests for recusal, Benjamin refused to step aside, stating that there was no proof of any actual bias on his part.

However, the adults surveyed in the Harris poll might argue otherwise. When (more…)

Full post as published by The Gavel on February 23, 2009 (boomark / email).