A Shaky Ethics Charge: Does John Roberts have an ethics problem?

[Judi Lynn]

A Shaky Ethics Charge

By Ronald D. Rotunda

Tuesday, September 6, 2005; Page A25

Does John Roberts have an ethics problem?

Three ethics professors argue that Roberts, whom President Bush has just nominated to be chief justice, should have disqualified himself from a case he helped decide earlier this year while serving as a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

The case, Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, which concerns a key issue in the administration's war on terrorism, may be headed for the Supreme Court, and at the time of the appeals court ruling, Roberts was being considered for a vacancy on the high court, though it did not yet exist.

The three professors -- Stephen Gillers of New York University, David J. Luban of Georgetown University and Steven Lubet of Northwestern University -- say that in not disqualifying himself, Roberts violated the "appearance of impartiality." If true, it may become a prominent issue because it offers one of the few arguments against Roberts. In the case at issue, the appeals court upheld the constitutionality of the administration's plan to use military commissions to try terrorist suspects.

Just a short time ago, Gillers said that he "saw no problem" with the fact that Bush met with Roberts about the Supreme Court vacancy on July 15, the same day the appeals court ruled 3 to 0 in Bush's favor in Hamdan. But Gillers said he changed his mind after Roberts disclosed the White House interviews in his Senate questionnaire. What seems to be crucial is that Attorney General Alberto Gonzales spoke to Roberts on April 1, six days before oral arguments in the Hamdan case.
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/05/AR2005090501385.html
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[DrDan]

1. the problem is that "ethics" is pretty much an unknown to these

felons.

It's not unlike when junior asked Charlotte Church which state Wales was in.

[seemslikeadream]

2. just got this from someone

:shrug:

"BOB LADY & JOHN ROBERTS: From Iran-Contra to Iraq"

http://argentina.indymedia.org/news/2005/09/323879.php

BOB LADY & JOHN ROBERTS: From Iran-Contra to Iraq
Por Clayton Hallmark - Monday, Sep. 05, 2005 at 5:40 PM


Robert (Bob) Seldon Lady, a CIA man wanted by European police, may be hiding in a home in Honduras, Central America. We have learned that it probably is in the town of Valle de Angeles. (See http://www.qrz.com/hr1bl and map below.) SOMEWHERE IN THIS UNDER-REPORTED MESS -- an illegal kidnapping by the CIA in Italy -- may lie the ANSWER TO CINDY SHEEHAN'S QUESTION about the US war cause -- and even IRAN-CONTRA, and possibly Supreme Court nominee JOHN ROBERTS' ROLE IN IRAN-CONTRA

bob_lady---cia_locations.gif, image/gif, 604x419

#file_1#

The kidnapping by Bob Lady's gang of a Muslim cleric MADE HEADLINES IN ITALY in June and July and caused a US-Italian incident. The CIA, who had "renditioned" the militant Muslim off the streets of Milan, were charged, put under arrest warrants in Europe -- but the prosecutor, Armando Spataro, despite early claims that he would extradite, has made no moves to do so! The story will be an election issue in Italy next May. It could be an issue in the confirmation hearings of John G. Roberts if Mr. Lady, under pressure, talks about his own role in Iran-Contra.

John Roberts helped set up the Contra-funding organization Nicaraguan Humanitarian Assistance Office (NHAO). The actual transfers of arms and training, however, took place in Honduras. I think there is evidence that Mr. Lady was a key link in turning NHAO money into arms and training for Contras in Honduras. Someone had to do it -- actually turn over the guns and do the training. The Bush administration and John Roberts do not want this discussion of Iran-Contra and NHAO
---------------------------

We have learned that the alleged lead renditioner in the Italian case, Robert Seldon Lady, has a family home in Valle de Angeles http://www.qrz.com/hr1bl , Honduras, and another in Punta Gorda, Florida. He has even been making phone calls from Honduras. We provide details -- with links -- that the mainsteam media won't touch, plus a TIME LINE OF US BLACK OPS LINKING IRAN-CONTRA of the 1980s all the way to THE IRAQ WAR.

Lady and the 18 others have not been arrested, either because of political pressure on prosecutor Spataro or because of his US sympathies. He is known to be close to US reporters and has a special fondness for Chicago.
-------------------------------------

<snip>
#file_2#

How long will the Italian judges, Parliament, press, and people tolerate prosecutor Spataro's inaction? Has the Italian Government no pride, or is it just that the US is the Boss of the World now?

MR. SPATARO: If you want Mr. Lady and the 18 others, show us their photos. Is Lady's anything like the one shown here? Also, you had a mole in your Italian prosecutor's office or police agency who tipped off the CIA agents and caused them to flee prosecution. You still have a leak, and you will not be able to catch the fugitives as long as you do.

Mr. Lady's father, Mr. Bill Lady, also shown here, goes back 50 years in Honduras.

[Demeter]

3. He's a GOP, Bush Operative. What Do YOU Think?

Of course he has ethics problems. It's one of the requirements for BushCo employment.

[Karenina]

4. HUGH!

;-) Cute kids tho, eh?