Friday morning docket: The weekend option
The weekend is almost here, folks. And while Democrats in the senate continue to wrangle over the hot-button issue of the health care public option, let’s take a look at the legal news:
There’s no recuse: Members of a House Judiciary subcommittee searched for ways to curb federal judges who refuse to step aside in cases where a conflict of interest is apparent, saying such refusals deny litigants a fair chance in court. (Lawyers USA)
O’Connor still no fan of elections: Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor said a way to get a fair and unbiased judge is to do away elected judges altogether. She has launched an initiative to help states do just that. (ABA Journal)
An ‘honest’ reversal? If the Supreme Court strikes down law criminalizing the deprivation of “honest services” - as the justices seemed inclined to do at oral arguments Tuesday - will there be “an earthquake within the criminal justice community?” (WSJ Law Blog)
Sound of silence: On Wednesday, the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court contemplated whether arbitrators may compel class arbitration when the arbitration contract is silent on the issue. (Lawyers USA)
Chief statue: A marble bust of the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist was unveiled at the Supreme Court. (SCOTUSBlog)
