After Less Than a Week, Morgenthau Steps Down as Special Master in Race Bias Suit
Less than a week after being appointed to oversee New York City’s efforts to increase the number of minority firefighters, Robert Morgenthau is stepping down.
He’ll be replaced as special master by former U.S. Attorney Mary Jo White, now a partner of Debevoise & Plimpton.
The New York Times reports that the former Manhattan District Attorney is stepped down over criticism that he would be biased against the city.
Calling the claim absurd, Morgenthau is quoted by the Times as saying he decided “it would be in the court’s best interest to appoint as a special master a person as to whom no party bears a grudge or resentment.” Morgenthau, now of counsel to Wachtell Lipton, took on the role pro bono.
In his order replacing Morgenthau with White, U.S. District Judge Nicholas G. Garaufis railed against the city for what he perceived as yet another delay tactic.
“This court is confronted with the odious specter of a city government taking every possible step to perpetuate a fundamental, decades-old injustice against its own citizens,” Garaufis wrote. “The city’s obstinacy, its unflagging defense of an overrun position reflects a misguided set of priorities and loyalties. New York City is not a fiefdom. It is a representative democracy.”
The city followed up with a statement disputing it was delaying and praising the selection of White.
Also see:
ABA Journal: “The Boss” (cover story featuring Morgenthau as ‘America’s DA’)
