Judge who overturned drilling moratorium reported owning stock in drilling

[cal04]

Judge who overturned drilling moratorium reported owning stock in drilling companies
—John Cook is a senior national reporter/blogger for Yahoo! News
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/20100622/ts_ynews/ynews_ts2771

The federal judge who overturned Barack Obama's offshore drilling moratorium appears to own stock in numerous companies involved in the offshore oil industry—including Transocean, which leased the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig to BP prior to its April 20 explosion in the Gulf of Mexico—according to 2008 financial disclosure reports.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman issued a preliminary injunction today barring the enforcement of Barack Obama's proposed six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling, arguing that the ban is too broad.

According to Feldman's 2008 financial disclosure form, posted online by Judicial Watch , the judge owned stock in Transocean, as well as five other companies that are either directly or indirectly involved in the offshore drilling business.(http://www.judicialwatch.org/jfd/Feldman_Martin_L_C/2008.pdf)


Here’s a list of Feldman’s income in 2008 (amounts listed unless under $1,000):
http://thinkprogress.org/2010/06/22/judge-moratorium-energy-portfolio/

[Deep13]

1. That's grounds for a grievance.

He should have disclosed the conflict of interest and recused himself.

[Bitwit1234]

2. That right there should have thrown him off the case.

How come you are now allowed to rule in cases you have a special interest in. Bet a damn dollar he is a republican. AND appointed by a republican.

[Cattledog]

5. Appointed by Reagan in 83. EOM

[WeDidIt]

3. That right there is grounds for impeachment

Throw the asshole off the bench.

[NJmaverick]

4. K & R! and spread the word

I think this should get him kicked off the bench

[Odin2005]

6. Why am I not suprised?

:grr:

[rocktivity]

7. Good grief, KBR's on his list, too?

How the hell did he think he'd get away with this? Does he realize that Bush is no longer in office? He was appointed in '83 by Reagan? That explains it!

:eyes:
rocktivity

[cal04]

8. Not clear if Feldman still has energy industry stocks

MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2010/06/judge_blocks_gulf_offshore_drilling_moratorium_1.php?ref=fpb


(snip)
It's not clear whether Feldman still has all of the energy industry stock listed in the report. Recent court filings indicate he may no longer have Transocean shares. He did not own any shares in big companies such as BP PLC, which was leasing the rig that exploded, or ExxonMobil.

Feldman did not immediately respond to a request for comment about his current holdings.

(snip)
Josh Reichert, managing director of the Pew Environment Group, said his ruling should be rescinded if he still has investments in companies that could benefit from Tuesday's ruling.

"If Judge Feldman has any investments in oil and gas operators in the Gulf, it represents a flagrant conflict of interest," he said. "It is possible that he has sold off those assets. We just don't know."