The Failure to Recuse
 
Throughout the United States, judges associated with universities are called upon to adjudicate cases in which those universities are defendants in lawsuits.
 

 

In the following example, a former doctoral student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) filed a complaint against members of that institution over various alleged grievances.  He later realized that several judges hearing his case were adjunct faculty members of that university.  Responding to a motion for recusal, Andrew P. Gordon, U.S. District Judge for the Ninth Circuit of Nevada, wrote on July 11, 2019:

"There is no basis for my recusal in this case. ... While I have and will continue to engage with UNLV Law School through service, teaching, and hiring students,2 this relationship does not create a personal bias or an appearance of bias such that recusal is appropriate under § 455(b)(1) or § 455(a). Similarly, the non-disclosure of these relationships does not warrant recusal.  I therefore deny Heyman’s motion for recusal."





UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON

RECUSAL STATUTES

JUDICIAL REFORM

JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT

ESCAPING ACCOUNTABILITY

FIXING THE JUDICIARY

ALTERNATIVE JUDICIAL FIXES

THE LOCAL PRESS RESPONDS



SIGN TULANELINK'S PETITION

IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES

TULANELINK'S PETITIONS

JUDICIAL ENTITLEMENT

RULES FOR IMPEACHING A JUDGE

CENSURE JUDGE BERRIGAN

JUDICIAL INSPECTOR GENERAL

BALANCING THE SCALES