Federal Judge’s Conduct Cited as Possible Grounds for Impeachment

Judiciary

Federal Judge’s Conduct Cited as Possible Grounds for Impeachment

Posted Dec 21, 2007, 06:17 am CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss

A special court panel has found that U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous of New Orleans has engaged in conduct that might constitute grounds for impeachment, including filing false statements with a bankruptcy court and accepting lawyer gifts.

The report (PDF) by the Judicial Council of the 5th U.S. Circuit will be forwarded to the U.S. Judicial Conference headed by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., which will decide whether to recommend impeachment, the Associated Press reports.

The report cited evidence that during the bankruptcy of Porteous and his wife, Porteous had concealed assets, failed to list all creditors, filed the petition under a false name and failed to identify gambling losses. It also said the judge had obtained credit from casinos despite a bankruptcy court order that he obtain approval before taking on more debt.

The report also referred to evidence that Porteous had accepted gifts from lawyers who appeared before him, and failed to report the gifts on financial statements.

President Clinton nominated Porteous to the federal bench in 1994. He replaced U.S. District Judge Robert Collins, who resigned after his conviction for accepting $100,000 from a drug smuggler, the Times Picayune reports.

Porteous had also been investigated but not charged in the FBI’s Wrinkled Robe corruption investigation of conduct while on the state court bench, the Time Picayune says.

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Posted by Barbara Ann Jackson - 11 months, 1 day, 2 hours, 1 minute ago

subject: NEW ORLEANS Judicial Corruption, Foreclosure Fraud, FREDDIE MAC, Wells Fargo, etc.

FREDDIE MAC and WELLS FARGO needlessly pay DEBT COLLECTORS to outmaneuver -and even persecute people who file court proceedings in opposition to fraudulent collections and foreclosures. Any representation to Wall Street Investors by FREDDIE MAC or by WELLS FARGO that its reported $$$ billion dollar losses due to people defaulting on their mortgages should be weighed against that fact. Also, in lawsuits for “Unfair Debt Collection” damages, collectors get to make even more $$ via litigation, along with co-conspirators who enjoy pieces of the foreclosure pie.

Moreover, Debt Collectors’ WHITE COLLAR Crimes of FORECLOSURE FRAUD enables MORTGAGE LENDERS to ILLEGALLY FLIP properties. In Louisiana, it is HIGHLY COMMON for a DEBT COLLECTOR attorney to file a foreclosure: (i) in the name of a DEFUNCT mortgage company;(ii) in the name of a mortgage company which is NO LONGER holder of the security interest (the promissory note); or (iii) file a foreclosure and AFFIX
a “ransom” amount (the collector’s fee) far exceeding what the promissory note “Acceleration Clause” authorizes.“

Despite a property owner’s entitlement to Challenge CONTRARY-TO-LAW loss of his / her home, most property owners LACK consumer and legal knowledge; the Court System is REFRACTORY; and there are limited attorneys with Consumer Law acumen.

http://www.lawgrace.org/2007/12/08/my-december-7-2007-comment-posted-to-the-times-picayune-blog-about-the-news-article-entitled-â€œjudge-gets-debt-reprieve-badeaux-has-skipped-mortgage-paymentsâ€-the-foreclosure-of-this-lo/
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Barbara Ann Jackson (displaced from New Orleans)
Law & Grace, Inc.
www.lawgrace.org
PO Box 5373
Shreveport, LA 71135
Posted by Barbara Ann Jackson - 10 months, 4 weeks, 1 day, 17 hours, 30 minutes ago

re: Evidence to Impeach New Orleans Federal Judge Porteous; sad time for “our court”

Principally because of innumerable lives diminished or destroyed by JUDICIAL CORRUPTION, I was insulted to see New Orleans Eastern District Federal Court Judge Helen Berrigan’s “it’s a very sad time for . . .our court.“ Rather than lament people whom Judge Porteous’ acceptance of bribes has harmed, the judges think courts belongs to them. Apparently, unless coverups become impossible, they are fundamentally unwilling to apply WELL-ESTABLISHED LAWS if so doing adversely affects one of them.

I am incensed by judicial insularism which has fostered HAVES and HAVE NOTS classes in New Orleans! I am further appalled at the lack of outrage about the fact that U.S. Attorney Jim Letten ELECTED neither to prosecute Judge Porteous, nor the lawyers who paid bribes to the judge! Further, it was common perception that Porteous was connected to the Bail Bonds / Operation Wrinkled Robe scandals of which several judges, sheriffs, and others went to jail. Also, Internet comments posted on nola.com/news make it clear that public trust in Judge Porteous had long ago eroded.

How absurd for unethical jurists to examine others? Also, at www.lawgrace.org., is irrefutable proof that these courts repeatedly issued rulings that favor WELL-KNOWN real estate and mortgage fraud racketeering schemes committed by certain mortgage giants and debt collector attorneys. Accordingly, compliments of recalcitrant U.S. Attorneys and certain Eastern District Federal Court judges, New Orleans will remain a Banana Republic.

Barbara Ann Jackson
www.lawgrace.org

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