Judge Paul Barbadoro, Order Or Recusal
This document was uploaded by user and they confirmed that they have the permission to share it. If you are author or own the copyright of this book, please report to us by using this DMCA report form. Report DMCA
Overview
Download & View Judge Paul Barbadoro, Order Or Recusal as PDF for free.
More details
- Words: 510
- Pages: 3
Case 1:07-cr-00189
Document 19
Filed 10/12/2007
Page 1 of 3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
United States of America v. Case Case Case Case
Jason Gerhard Daniel Riley Robert Wolffe Cirino Gonzalez
No. No. No. No.
07-cr-168-01-PB 07-cr-189-01-PB 07-cr-190-01-PB 07-cr-191-01-PB
O R D E R The defendants in the above-captioned cases have been charged with criminal offenses, including conspiracies, that allegedly stem from their
efforts to prevent the United States
Marshals Service from arresting two fugitives, Edward and Elaine Brown.
The Browns were convicted of multiple counts of tax fraud
in a trial overseen by one of my colleagues, Chief District Judge Steven McAuliffe.
The Browns were fugitives until their recent
arrests and the defendants in the above-captioned cases allegedly assisted the Browns in avoiding apprehension. It has been widely reported in the media that the Browns and other members of the alleged conspiracy have threatened to kill
Case 1:07-cr-00189
Judge McAuliffe.
Document 19
Filed 10/12/2007
Page 2 of 3
In orders disqualifying himself in the Gonzalez
and Riley cases, Judge McAuliffe noted that “[b]ecause those public statements included threats of violence and physical harm directed at me, a reasonable person, fully informed of the facts, might understandably question my ability to remain impartial were I to preside.”
In this order, I explain why I, too, have decided
to disqualify myself from presiding over these cases. Canon 3(c)(1) of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges requires a judge to disqualify himself from any case “in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” Under this test, a judge ordinarily must disqualify himself if a reasonable person, knowledgeable of the relevant facts, would have reason to question the judge’s impartiality. Judge McAuliffe and I have been friends for more than 20 years.
Although I am confident that I could preside impartially
over the above-referenced cases notwithstanding this friendship, it is likely that at least some reasonable observers would conclude that my impartiality was compromised by my friendship with someone who allegedly has been threatened by the defendants’ alleged co-conspirators.
See United States v. Jordan, 49 F.3d
-2-
Case 1:07-cr-00189
Document 19
Filed 10/12/2007
Page 3 of 3
152, 158 (5th Cir. 1995) (trial judge abused her discretion in presiding over a criminal case in which defendant “was involved in an extremely hostile relationship” with the judge’s close friend because a reasonable person would doubt the judge’s impartiality). A defendant cannot force a judge to disqualify himself in a previously assigned case by making threats against the judge or his friends.
However, the threats at issue here allegedly were
made before the cases were assigned to me and I have no basis to believe that the alleged threats were made to provoke my disqualification.
Under these circumstances, prudence suggests
that the cases should be handled by a judge who does not have a close friendship with Judge McAuliffe.
Accordingly, I disqualify
myself from presiding over these cases. SO ORDERED.
/s/Paul Barbadoro Paul Barbadoro United States District Judge October 12, 2007 cc:
Counsel of Record
-3-
Document 19
Filed 10/12/2007
Page 1 of 3
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
United States of America v. Case Case Case Case
Jason Gerhard Daniel Riley Robert Wolffe Cirino Gonzalez
No. No. No. No.
07-cr-168-01-PB 07-cr-189-01-PB 07-cr-190-01-PB 07-cr-191-01-PB
O R D E R The defendants in the above-captioned cases have been charged with criminal offenses, including conspiracies, that allegedly stem from their
efforts to prevent the United States
Marshals Service from arresting two fugitives, Edward and Elaine Brown.
The Browns were convicted of multiple counts of tax fraud
in a trial overseen by one of my colleagues, Chief District Judge Steven McAuliffe.
The Browns were fugitives until their recent
arrests and the defendants in the above-captioned cases allegedly assisted the Browns in avoiding apprehension. It has been widely reported in the media that the Browns and other members of the alleged conspiracy have threatened to kill
Case 1:07-cr-00189
Judge McAuliffe.
Document 19
Filed 10/12/2007
Page 2 of 3
In orders disqualifying himself in the Gonzalez
and Riley cases, Judge McAuliffe noted that “[b]ecause those public statements included threats of violence and physical harm directed at me, a reasonable person, fully informed of the facts, might understandably question my ability to remain impartial were I to preside.”
In this order, I explain why I, too, have decided
to disqualify myself from presiding over these cases. Canon 3(c)(1) of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges requires a judge to disqualify himself from any case “in which the judge’s impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” Under this test, a judge ordinarily must disqualify himself if a reasonable person, knowledgeable of the relevant facts, would have reason to question the judge’s impartiality. Judge McAuliffe and I have been friends for more than 20 years.
Although I am confident that I could preside impartially
over the above-referenced cases notwithstanding this friendship, it is likely that at least some reasonable observers would conclude that my impartiality was compromised by my friendship with someone who allegedly has been threatened by the defendants’ alleged co-conspirators.
See United States v. Jordan, 49 F.3d
-2-
Case 1:07-cr-00189
Document 19
Filed 10/12/2007
Page 3 of 3
152, 158 (5th Cir. 1995) (trial judge abused her discretion in presiding over a criminal case in which defendant “was involved in an extremely hostile relationship” with the judge’s close friend because a reasonable person would doubt the judge’s impartiality). A defendant cannot force a judge to disqualify himself in a previously assigned case by making threats against the judge or his friends.
However, the threats at issue here allegedly were
made before the cases were assigned to me and I have no basis to believe that the alleged threats were made to provoke my disqualification.
Under these circumstances, prudence suggests
that the cases should be handled by a judge who does not have a close friendship with Judge McAuliffe.
Accordingly, I disqualify
myself from presiding over these cases. SO ORDERED.
/s/Paul Barbadoro Paul Barbadoro United States District Judge October 12, 2007 cc:
Counsel of Record
-3-
Related Documents
Judge Paul Barbadoro, Order Or Recusal
October 2019 12
Order Denying Motion For Recusal
June 2020 7
Judge Holland's Order
June 2020 9
Judge Platkin_letter Order
June 2020 10
Order Silencing Judge Anderson
May 2020 10