Should Judge Martin Feldman be Impeached?

[BradBlog]

Should Judge Martin Feldman be Impeached?
Controversial decision to block deep water drilling moratorium marred by conflict-of-interest...

-- Guest blogged by Ernest A. Canning

U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman, a 1983 Reagan appointee to the federal bench, issued what, on its face, would have to be regarded as an astounding decision in which he blocked a six month moratorium on deep water off shore drilling, ruling that the Department of the Interior had erroneously assumed that because one rig failed, there was an imminent danger of others failing as well.

A perplexed Justice Department promptly announced that it intends to seek an immediate stay of Judge Feldman's preliminary injunction pending an appeal.

Setting aside what appears to be an inappropriate judicial intrusion by a Federalist Society-connected jurist into the prerogatives of the Executive branch in protecting public health, safety and the environment, setting aside the misguided notion that the burden rests with the government rather than the oil companies when it comes to demonstrating whether deep water drilling procedures are safe, Judge Feldman's decision --- and his failure to recuse himself despite clear conflict-of-interest concerns --- raises a significant question as to whether he should be impeached...

FULL STORY: http://www.bradblog.com/?p=7909

[WeDidIt]

1. Yes, he should. n/t

[Tempest]

3. +1 n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

2. I don't want to say yes, yet

Congress should investigate.

[lpbk2713]

4. He's a dinosaur RayGun appointee.

That's reason enough for me.

[texastoast]

5. He should recuse himself absolutely

But I don't know the stock holdings of the other judges who would replace him.

[Bitwit1234]

6. This administration will take no action they are afraid

of hurting republican feelings. It would not be complete bipartisan. You know what Democrats have to have toward republicans but which they can ignore.

[Cass]

7. I thought they had to recuse themselves from cases where they have a clear conflict

of interest as he does in this case.

[Mo Joe]

8. At All Costs

Feldman is a threat to public health and safety. There is no question he should be impeached!

[depakid]

9. No question about it

But sadly, this administration and Congress have shown little regard for accountability under the rule of law for certain connected types- and so we can expect these sorts of deals to continue- and perhaps grow even more frequent.

[Rage for Order]

10. Depends...

How does he hold the stock? I may own some BP stock (or Transocean, or Halliburton), I'm not sure. I have a few hundred shares of a S&P 500 Index mutual fund. Does that mean I would have a conflict of interest? I'm sure I have other mutual funds that own shares of oil companies, or pharmaceutical companies, or other companies I'm not aware of. Would all of those cause a conflict of interest? Should elected (or appointed) officials be limited to investing only in municipal bonds or treasury notes?

[Posteritatis]

11. Fed judges have to avoid even the appearance of impropriety

Never mind actual impropriety as in this case. He could use a benchectomy.

[jotsy]

12. Yes.

Along with Scalia, Thomas, Kennedy and Roberts.