Judge In Coleman-Franken Case Donated To Coleman Campaigns

MyDD:

Last week, I took a look at the political leanings of the five Minnesota Supreme Court Justices who will decide Republican Norm Coleman's likely appeal. Of one of the five Justices, Justice Christopher J. Dietzen, I suggested that he "has the clearest partisan background" of any of the Justices, pointing to facts including Dietzen serving as a campaign lawyer on Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty's 2002 campaign.

Read the whole story: MyDD

Comments

[joycehelene]

That doesn't mean he can't be fair.

[take10]

It just means he probably won't be impartial! Judges are crooks too!

[citizensrus]

I think it is his obligation to recuse himself..and if he is sure he can be impartial, I'd say, he is in denial to his humanity.
I think, if he does not recuse himself, pressure should be applied to force a recusal.

[RuthAlice]

It's possible he will rise above partisanship. After all, the majority of the recount judges were Republican and managed to avoid making partisan decisions.

[linzy]

This judge must step aside in this issue. He cannot possibly render a fair and unbiased opinion. If he votes against Mr. Franken, he must be held accountable to the Nth degree for his reasoning and his ethics. Please, people of Minnesota, and people across this nation, speak up, holler, shout and demand that Coleman give it up. Does he need the job so freakin bad he's willing to go to any lengths to do so? Has he nothing better to do than waste the taxpayers' money on dragging this on and on and on...?

[dcree77]

I am very supportive of Al Franken and his right to take the seat he has legitimately won. However, I think this is a silly "news article." I don't see the judge's two $250 political contributions as creating a conflict of interest. Unless there is some specific prohibition against judges making political contributions, I don't see anything wrong with it. Most, if not all judges have their political points of view before they get on the bench. The whole point is that a judge is suppose to rule based on the law, not politics. What is the difference between having a political point of view and making a nominal political contribution? No one who knows me would dare consider me anything but progressive or liberal, but I fail to see the problem here. Maybe I'm missing something?????

[dagnome27]

Recusal, at the very least.

[RickCoMatic]

There cannot be stronger evidence that the fix is in and they are going to find a way to hand-over the win to Coleman.
I thought the Franken Case was cut and dried.
I didn't think that the Appeals Court would hear the Case.
Before today, 7 Judges and the Secretary of State have been unanimous about the Franken win.

I am no longer referring to the matter as "Coleman v Franken"
I will be referring to this matter as the GOP-Coleman Conspiracy until it is proved not to be one.
"Coleman-Gate" begins right now!!!

[edgeways]

the "appeal court" is the MN Supreme Court, kind of a big deal.

And we still don't know if it will hear the case, but if it does it will be to resolve finally any issues outstanding, especially issues the ECC decided not to address specifically. The "fix" is not in. indeed in many of the ruling the MNSC has gone against Coleman.

[CalculatedRiskTaker]

The Judge should have stepped down. Now he needs to go to jail. Period. This is a terriorest act against the people of this country.

[edgeways]

what a weak argument, a terrorist act? Good lord, and people wonder why many liberals are not taken seriously.

Perhaps the Judge should step down, but he actually broke no laws. And he actually gave no money to Coleman in the 2008 cycle.

[seirav]

I'm as liberal as the next guy, but this is over the top -- Get your knickers out of their twist, Dolly Drama, you're embarassing yourself.

[Ratfink1]

Recusal is something Dems must do when it applies to them.

[midwesterness]

The search I did showed these contributions only for Christopher Dietzen:



Dietzen, Christopher
Bloomington, MN 55431
Larken Hoffman Daly and Lundgren/At
FREEDOM CLUB FEDERAL PAC $500
primary 09/20/01

Dietzen, Christopher
Bloomington, MN 55431
Larken Hoffman Daly and Lundgren/At
FREEDOM CLUB FEDERAL PAC $500
primary 01/22/01

DIETZEN, CHRISTOPHER J
BLOOMINGTON, MN 55420
LARKIN HOFFMAN ET AL DOLE, ROBERT J (R)
President
DOLE FOR PRESIDENT INC $250
primary 04/29/96

DIETZEN, CHRISTOPHER
BLOOMINGTON, MN 55420
LARKIN, HOFFMAN
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA (R) $200
primary 04/04/94

See

http://www.newsmeat.com/fec/bystate_detail.php?st=MN&last=dietzen&first=christopher.

Go figure!

[justoverit333]

holy smokes you're kidding me.
unbelievable.

[luvangelHussein330]

Looks like a conflict of intrest to me...
Must be nice to have friends in high places especialy ones who prside over your soar looser case. Give it up Colemen!!

[igorz]

"Conflict of interest" doesn't seem to be a familiar concept in American jurisprudence

[RTIII]

Actually, it's quite well known, it just doesn't apply to Republicans when it comes to their political ambitions - or their money.
.

[JustMe133]

Is'nt this a conflict of interest? If this was the other way around we'd never hear the end of it from the rightwing loons! Is someone in someones pockets?

[SOLERSO68]

your right.! they are making the rules, we have to beath them at their game.

[Citizen54]

Judges: the front line in the war against democracy.