Judge Stacey Jernigan of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas. Courtesy photo Federal Bankruptcy Judge's 'Vilifying' Novels Raise Questions Over Impartiality
Judge Stacey Jernigan claims the "bombastic" hedge fund managers in her books are pure fiction, but ethics experts argue they violate her responsibility to appear impartial.
July 23, 2024 at 05:00 AM
7 minute read
Judicial Ethics
What You Need to Know
- Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Judge Stacey Jernigan has written two novels featuring hedge fund managers as unsavory characters.
- Ethics experts and bankruptcy attorneys said Jernigan's novels, and an admission of their basis in reality, violate the judge's duty to appear impartial.
- Jernigan also used her status as a bankruptcy judge in promotional posts and held a private book club at a law firm office near her courthouse.
Avery Lassiter is no fan of the hedge fund industry. The fictional Texas-based federal bankruptcy judge cuts through the industry's flashy exterior of private airplanes and racehorses to expose its true nature of leaching value from society while giving little back in return.
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