#conflict-of-interest
#conflict-of-interest

A Very Good Day for Donald Trump': Toobin Says Fani Willis' Case Is Going Nowhere'

Willis charged Trump and his co-defendants under Georgia's RICO statute for post-2020 election actions.

Judge orders Willis to step down due to potential conflict of interest, affecting the trial timeline for Trump. [ more ]

www.cnn.com

Judge rules Fani Willis can stay on Trump's Georgia election case

Fulton County judge rules in favor of DA in election interference case

Judge rebukes DA but allows prosecution to proceed without special prosecutor [ more ]

morelegal-proceedings

prosecutors

www.theguardian.com

Georgia prosecutors urge court to reject Trump attempt to disqualify Fani Willis

Prosecutors ask Georgia court to reject Trump's claim of DA disqualification due to relationship.

Judge ruled appearance of conflict; Deputy resigned for DA to continue case. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Legal Experts Skeptical of Conflict of Interest Claim in Trump Georgia Case

Legal experts doubt that the defense's questioning and witness testimonies demonstrated a clear conflict of interest in the Georgia case against Donald J. Trump and his allies.

The day's proceedings did not help the prosecutors overall and could be damaging in terms of public perception. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Legal experts were skeptical about a conflict of interest, but said the hearing did not help the prosecutors.

Legal experts doubt clear conflict of interest was demonstrated in the hearing

Testimony from a former friend of Ms. Willis contradicted the timeline presented by the prosecutors [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

D.A. Denies Improper Relationship With Special Trump Prosecutor

Lawyers for Trump and his allies argued that the prosecutors should be disqualified due to their romantic and financial entanglements.

The hearing involved the prosecutors being grilled about their personal lives, including trips, breakups, and expenses. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

In Trump Case, Thorny Conflict of Interest Question Looms

The effort to disqualify the prosecutors in Trump's election interference case is based on the argument of a conflict of interest due to a romantic relationship between the district attorney and the special prosecutor.

The defense lawyers argue that the relationship and financial benefits from the special prosecutor create a personal interest in the case, which goes against the district attorney's obligation to seek justice. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

Ashleigh Merchant, a Defense Lawyer, Is Arguing for the Prosecutors' Disqualification

Ashleigh Merchant, a lawyer representing a co-defendant in the Georgia election interference case, has accused the Fulton County district attorney of having a romantic relationship with the special prosecutor hired for the case.

Merchant argues that this relationship creates a conflict of interest and should disqualify the prosecutors from handling the case. [ more ]

moreprosecutors

romantic-relationship

New York Post

New York City

NY Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, 56, refuses to address romance with lobbyist, 32: 'My life will never be in conflict'

Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie is in a romantic relationship with a lobbyist but refuses to comment on it.

Heastie insists there is no conflict of interest in his relationship and has protocols in place to prevent any issues. [ more ]

www.mercurynews.com

4 months ago

moreromantic-relationship

Georgia judge sets hearing for allegations against Willis

The judge presiding over the Georgia prosecution of Donald Trump and others has set a hearing to address allegations of a romantic relationship between the district attorney and a special prosecutor hired for the case.

Trump and his supporters argue that the case is tainted and should be dismissed because of the alleged conflict of interest. [ more ]

fani-willis

Truthout

Left-wing politics

Georgia Judge Says Fulton County DA Fani Willis Can Continue Prosecuting Trump

Judge ruled case against Trump can move forward with prosecutor Willis, only if Wade steps down.

Judge McAfee found no conflict of interest due to relationship between Willis and specially appointed prosecutor Wade. [ more ]

www.cnn.com

Trump Georgia case hearing continues as Fani Willis testifies

Advisers and confidants of Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis have urged prosecutor Nathan Wade to step aside in the Georgia election subversion case.

Willis and Wade have resisted the push for him to resign from the case, with Wade expressing his desire not to be a distraction. [ more ]

Above the Law

Fulton DA Comes Out Swinging In Response To Affair Allegations

Fani Willis, the District Attorney, is alleged to be romantically involved with Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade.

The defense has accused Willis of having a conflict of interest due to her relationship with Wade. [ more ]

ABA Journal

After sanctions threat, Trump lawyer in $83.3M defamation case drops conflict claim stemming from BigLaw overlap

Trump lawyer drops conflict claim in defamation case

Opposing lawyer denies the accusation and reserves the right to seek sanctions [ more ]

New York Post

E. Jean Carroll lawyer Roberta Kaplan blasts conflict-of-interest claim against judge in Trump case as 'utterly baseless'

Carroll's lawyer denies conflict-of-interest allegations against the judge overseeing the defamation battle.

The lawyer states that there was no mentor relationship and no direct interaction between her and the judge during their time at the law firm. [ more ]

www.mediaite.com

This Is a Bogus Motion by the Trump Team': Elie Honig Pillories Alina Habba's Self-Defeating' Filing

CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig criticizes a motion filed by Alina Habba in Donald Trump's defamation case.

Habba claimed that the judge who presided over the case once had a working relationship with Carroll's lawyer, but Honig dismisses the claim as a bogus motion. [ more ]

New York Post

Trump lawyer Alina Habba demands details from judge on 'troubling' allegations he mentored E. Jean Carrol's attorney

Donald Trump's lawyer is demanding the judge in the defamation case provide information about a potential conflict of interest with the plaintiff's lead counsel.

The judge and the plaintiff's lead counsel worked together in the past, raising concerns about bias in the case. [ more ]

New York Post

Trump lawyers to use 'conflict of interest' between judge, Carroll's lawyer in appeal of $83.3M jury verdict: 'Insane'

Donald Trump's lawyers plan to use a previously undisclosed conflict of interest between the judge and the lawyer in E. Jean Carroll's defamation case as the basis for their appeal.

The conflict of interest involves the judge, Lewis Kaplan, and the lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, who worked together at the same law firm in the early 1990s. [ more ]

ABA Journal

Judge should be censured for street brawl, conflict of interest, New York judicial conduct commission says

A New York judge is recommended for censure due to a street brawl and a conflict of interest with an attorney. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

New York City

Trump Makes His Third Try This Week to Delay Manhattan Trial

Trump's lawyers are attempting to delay the trial through various legal maneuvers.

The legal team challenges the trial judge's alleged conflict of interest and claims immunity from prosecution for Trump. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

New York City

Trump Asks Trial Judge to Step Aside, Aiming Again at His Daughter

Trump seeks judge recusal over alleged conflict of interest involving judge's daughter's Democratic ties.

Manhattan DA's office rejects Trump's recusal request, citing lack of new evidence and factual leaps. [ more ]

moreNew York City

ABC7 San Francisco

1 week ago

Georgia appeals court agrees to review ruling allowing Fani Willis to stay on Trump election case

The Georgia appeals court is reviewing a ruling allowing the Fulton County District Attorney to prosecute the election interference case against former President Trump. [ more ]

Above the Law

1 week ago

Trump Judge Postpones Trial Because She Messed Up So Much - See Also

Conflict of interest in legal cases can lead to complex situations. [ more ]

Above the Law

Trump Lawyers File Even More Garbage Motions In Desperate Bid To Stave Off New York Trial

Trump's lawyers are accused of delaying tactics by repeatedly filing motions to recuse a judge.

The judge consulted judicial ethics committee which found no conflict of interest in the case. [ more ]

www.npr.org

Trump demands a new judge just days before the start of his hush-money criminal trial

Former President Trump demands a new judge before his hush-money criminal trial, citing bias concerns.

Trump's lawyers allege conflict of interest due to the judge's daughter being a Democratic political consultant. [ more ]

www.npr.org

Georgia judge rules that Fani Willis can remain on Trump case if Wade steps aside

Fulton County DA Fani Willis can lead Georgia election case if special prosecutor resigns.

Judge rules Willis' relationship with special prosecutor not a conflict of interest. [ more ]

Above the Law

Alina Habba Panics After Opposing Counsel Reminds Her What Happens To People Who Play Stupid Games

Donald Trump's lawyer is complaining about a supposed connection between Judge Lewis Kaplan and Carroll's lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, who are not related.

Habba filed a letter alleging a conflict of interest and an ethics violation due to the supposed connection between Judge Kaplan and Roberta Kaplan. [ more ]

New York Post

1 day ago

Left-wing politics

Ethics complaint against Trump hush money trial judge over Biden donations dismissed

Ethics complaint about judge's donations to Democrats dismissed by NY Commission on Judicial Conduct. [ more ]

www.wsj.com

Left-wing politics

Opinion | Plausible Deniability for Joe

Political implications of Biden family's business dealings with China were raised during deposition.

James Biden's response regarding plausible deniability stood out during the deposition. [ more ]

Miami Herald

Miami

City manager says Miami is ending relationship with his wife's furniture company

Miami city ends relationship with furniture company involving city manager's spouse. [ more ]

Miami Herald

Miami

Miami mayor proposes voting map changes, strong-mayor government, independent auditor

Mayor Francis Suarez announces proposal for independent auditor to ensure elected officials are free of conflicts

Mayor suggests possibility of increasing mayor's powers and eliminating voting districts [ more ]

emptywheel

Marketing

Three Things: No News Isn't Good News - emptywheel

The media has been criticized for shallow coverage of key stories

There is a lack of transparency in reporting on certain individuals or events [ more ]

Mission Local

Mission District

Upwards of 450 city officials have not declared their financial interests

463 government employees in San Francisco have not disclosed their income, gifts, and assets as required by state law.

Transparency tools like the “Statement of Economic Interest” are essential for preventing conflicts of interest in government decision-making. [ more ]

Someecards

Career

Woman finally tells husband's friend that his 'horrible boss' is her uncle. AITA?

Keeping professional relationships separate is crucial.

Communication about relevant connections is important. [ more ]

ABC7 San Francisco

California

Longtime Newsom donor exempt from California minimum wage law, report says

The state's new minimum wage law has exemptions benefiting certain businesses.

A billionaire restaurant owner benefiting from the exemption donated to Gov. Newsom. [ more ]

www.mediaite.com

Prosecutors Not Calling Fani Willis Back to Stand Because Testimony Was Enough to Fend Off Disqualification, Sources Tell CNN

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will not testify again in the misconduct hearing to remove her from the case.

Willis' testimony on Thursday is believed to have been sufficient to defeat the effort to disqualify her. [ more ]

time.com

Court Filing Discloses Personal Relationship Between Fani Willis and Prosecutor Hired in Trump Case

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is involved in a personal relationship with a special prosecutor she hired for the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump.

Willis argues there are no grounds to dismiss the case or to remove her from the prosecution. [ more ]

Alleywatch

Startup companies

Conflixis Raises $275K to Make Sure Conflicts of Interest are Minimized and Possibly Managed

Conflict of interest can leave organizations vulnerable to civil liability and criminal prosecution.

Conflixis is an AI-powered platform that detects fraud, overspending, and compliance related to conflicts of interest. [ more ]

Boston.com

US news

Fani Willis acknowledges a 'personal relationship' with prosecutor she hired in Trump's Georgia case

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis acknowledged a "personal relationship" with a special prosecutor she hired for the case against Donald Trump.

Willis argued there are no grounds to dismiss the case or remove her from the prosecution. [ more ]

www.mediaite.com

Trump Lawyer Alina Habba Backtracks on Wild Allegation Against Judge in E. Jean Carroll Defamation Case

E. Jean Carroll was awarded $83.3 million in damages in her defamation complaint against Donald Trump.

Trump's attorney accused the judge of a conflict of interest, but the accusation was swiftly withdrawn. [ more ]

Chicago Tribune

Chicago

Editorial: Brandon Johnson's upcoming CTU negotiation should scare taxpayers. Will he surprise us with tough love for his friends?

The Chicago Teachers Union played a significant role in the election of Brandon Johnson as mayor.

The upcoming negotiation of a new teachers contract presents a conflict of interest for Mayor Johnson. [ more ]

The Mercury News

4 months ago

East Bay (California)

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price barred from prosecuting former prosecutor and loudest critic

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price's office has been barred from prosecuting a former employee in a misdemeanor case.

The case will now be handled by the California Attorney General's Office. [ more ]

Truthout

High State Courts Are Rife With Ethics Concerns

North Carolina Supreme Court justice Paul Newby has heard at least six cases involving Duke Energy, a company in which he and his wife had a financial stake.

Newby's involvement in these cases raises concerns about impartiality and adherence to judicial ethics. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Privacy professionals

Ex-commissioner for facial recognition tech joins Facewatch firm he approved

Former watchdog for facial recognition technology joins private firm he approved, raising concerns of a conflict of interest.

Critics are calling for an investigation into whether negotiations with the company took place while in public office. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

France politics

French Court Clears Justice Minister of Abuse of Power

The French justice minister, Eric Dupond-Moretti, was ruled not guilty of using his position to settle scores.

The court found that while Dupond-Moretti was in conflict of interest, he had not abused his power.

This case was the first in which a sitting French minister had to face trial before a special court for alleged crimes connected to their official duties. [ more ]

www.france24.com

France politics

French justice minister awaits court ruling in conflict of interest scandal

French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti is facing a trial and a court decision on a conflict of interest case.

Dupond-Moretti is accused of misusing his position to settle scores with opponents from his legal career.

The trial relates to administrative inquiries on the minister's watch into three judges who had ordered a phone records examination of lawyers and magistrates. [ more ]

HuffPost