Judge in oil spill case sells energy stocks

[babylonsister]

:wow:


Judge in oil spill case sells energy stocks

By LARRY MARGASAK
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Louisiana federal judge who struck down a six-month ban on deepwater oil drilling has sold many of his energy investments, a financial disclosure report released Friday reveals.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman's disclosure report, which covers investments for 2009, shows he owned eight energy-related investments including stock in Exxon Mobil Corp.

However, in an attachment to the report, the judge said he sold his Exxon Mobil stock this June when he was hearing the oil spill case.

In last year's disclosure report, Feldman owned up to 16 energy-related investments.

Among the assets sold was stock in Transocean, the Switzerland-based company that owned the drilling rig operated by BP that is now spewing oil into the Gulf .

Feldman, a 1983 nominee of President Ronald Reagan, struck down the Obama administration's six-month moratorium on deepwater oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, disputing what he said was the government assumption that because one rig exploded, others posed an imminent danger.

On Thursday, Feldman refused to place his ruling on hold while the government appeals.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GULF_OIL_SPILL_JUDGE?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[vaberella]

1. He got too much back lash. Couldn't handle the heat. n/t

[babylonsister]

2. He's still doing his thing; backlash from who? nt

[vaberella]

6. I figured he was getting too much publicity for his relationship with oil companies.

There were a lot of articles on here and GD, which did paint him in a good light.

[depakid]

3. A little late for that...

In any sane country, the man would be impeached for his previous disregard for the rules of judicial conduct.

[babylonsister]

4. A little late for what? This guy should be thrown out for his

obvious conflict of interest.

[ShadowLiberal]

5. His ruling should be automatically nullified as he owned stock during part of the trial

You can't just agree to hear a case in which you have a clear conflict of interest, and then sell it off in the middle of the case.

But I'm sure 4 out of 9 of our Supreme Court judges wouldn't see a problem with that, you know, the ones who thought that hearing a case where the defendant was the guy who spent 70% of all of the cash spent by everyone in your last election to the court wasn't enough of a conflict of interest to disqualify them from hearing the case.

[depakid]

7. "You can't just agree to hear a case in which you have a clear conflict of interest"

Apparently in America with this House and Senate you can....

[ladjf]

8. Stocks can be sold or bought instantly at any time. As soon as

the "coast is clear", he'll re-purchase his oil stocks. (IMO)