Attention:
Card image cap

The Ethics of Federal Disqualifications Motions: From Trump's Race Charge to San Francisco's Most Bitter Court Disqualification Battle Ever


Level: Advanced
Runtime: 68 minutes
Recorded Date: August 09, 2023
Click here to share this program
Printer-Friendly Version
Closed Caption

Agenda


• 28 U.S.C. ?? 144 & 455
• Cal. Rule Prof. Conduct 3-200, 5-120, 5-200 & Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges
• Major rule is built around this question: When would a reasonable person challenge the judge’s impartiality?
• Attorney conduct (ethics) is not subject to one set of national standards. Patchwork of regimes.
        - State bar rules, ABA Model Rules of Prof. Responsibility, etc.
        - Contra: Fed.R.Evid., Fed.R.Civ.P., Fed.R.Crim.P.

Runtime: 1 hour, 8 minutes
Recorded: August 9, 2023

For NY - Difficulty Level: For experienced attorneys (nontranstional)
For NY - Difficulty Level: Experienced attorneys only (non-transitional)

Description

During the 2016 Presidential campaign, Republican Nominee Donald J. Trump accused U.S. District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel of bias against him while presiding over a case involving allegations of fraud against the now-defunct Trump University. Mr. Trump accused Judge Curiel of bias because in Mr. Trump’s words, Judge Curiel “happens to be, we believe, Mexican” and “I’m building a wall... it’s an inherent conflict of interest”. Of course, Mr. Trump is a litigant, and not a lawyer, and no lawyer who values his or her law license would levy such a charge against a judge. But what laws and ethics rules govern judges in deciding whether to recuse themselves from cases and govern lawyers when they accuse judges of bias?

Peter Afrasiabi, an experienced intellectual property lawyer, litigator and author of a book detailing one of the most bitter legal battles involving disqualification ever, provides practical guidance to lawyers who may be called upon to decide whether to challenge the impartiality of the judge hearing their case. As you might expect, challenging a judge for bias is a sensitive and risky matter that could have severe consequences for the lawyer if he or she gets it wrong, both in terms of potential ethical violations and court-imposed sanctions, as well as severe consequences with his or her clients.

Mr. Afrasiabi deftly guides lawyers through the rules and the key cases related to bias, disqualification and race-based bias charges, while at the same time offering practical advice to lawyers to help them avoid the pitfalls that could get them in trouble with the courts, the state bar and their clients. He also weaves in a bit of legal history as he recounts the fascinating tale of labor leader Harry Bridges, whose deportation proceedings sparked the most bitter court battle ever over the disqualification of the federal judge presiding over Mr. Bridges’ case.

This program was recorded on August 9th, 2023.

Provided By

Card image cap New Media Legal
Card image cap

Panelists

Card image cap

Peter Afrasiabi

Founding Partner
One LLP

Peter Afrasiabi is a founding partner at One, LLP, and focuses his practice on copyright, patent, trademark and entertainment litigation. In addition, Peter is a professor and the Director of the Appellate Clinic at University of California, Irvine School of Law.

Peter graduated from University of California, Los Angeles and University of Southern California Gould School of Law.


Card image cap

Similar Courses

Card image cap
60 minutes
8 Reasons Movie-Lawyers Would be Disciplined
Attorneys in film are constantly violating the ethics rules. Of course, the public probably doesn’t realize it, but us lawyers need to make sure that we don’t repeat these sometimes ridiculous gaffes. Join the CLE Performer, Stuart Teicher, Esq., as he explains the sometimes obvious and sometimes subtle ethics violations committed by lawyers in movies and on TV.

Stuart Teicher

$75

Add to Cart
Card image cap
58 minutes
ABC Panel: Ethical Pitfalls in Technology, Fee Applications and Practicing in Court
This panel of ABC-certified judges will discuss the applicable rules of professional conduct and other authority implicated in electronic filing, the use of email, “phishing” scams and hacking, and technology issues raised by today’s pandemic practice.

American Bankruptcy Institute

$75

Add to Cart
Card image cap
62 minutes
AI & Privacy Risks: Building a Framework to Balance Innovation & Protection
As AI continues to revolutionize various aspects of our lives, concerns about data privacy, security, and ethical implications have become increasingly prevalent. Join this session as we explore the inherent risks and threats that arise when AI interacts with personal data, the type of frameworks that can be introduced to protect your organization, and the ethical conundrums that arise from AI.

General Counsel Conference

$75

Add to Cart
Card image cap
60 minutes
Airplane Etiquette and Attorney Ethics
In this program we’re going to talk about Stuart’s Rules for Proper Airplane Etiquette. And what are rules of etiquette? They are rules of behavior. Well, look at that…it just so happens that the ethics rules are also rules of behavior. So let’s talk about how we should behave on a plane, and compare that to how we should behave in the practice.

Stuart Teicher

$75

Add to Cart
Previous Next