How could you think this was a good idea?
Jun. 8th, 2009 02:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
theweaselkingWest Virginia mining company is sued. Judge rules in favour of plaintiffs.
Mining company says "aren't you up for re-election, Judge?" and dumps three million dollars into the judge's opponent's campaign, more than all other contributors combined.
New judge takes office and the mining company appeals, and refuses to recuse himself from the case. Verdict overturned.
US Supreme Court, 5-4 on strict fact-based versus faith-based lines, rules that no, there definitely was a conflict of interest and the judge shouldn't have been hearing the case, because the defendant had given him three million dollars.
Mining company says "aren't you up for re-election, Judge?" and dumps three million dollars into the judge's opponent's campaign, more than all other contributors combined.
New judge takes office and the mining company appeals, and refuses to recuse himself from the case. Verdict overturned.
US Supreme Court, 5-4 on strict fact-based versus faith-based lines, rules that no, there definitely was a conflict of interest and the judge shouldn't have been hearing the case, because the defendant had given him three million dollars.