Breaking News: Judge Chatigny Cleared of Wrongdoing in Michael Ross Case by Ethics Panel

The Connecticut Law Tribune Reports: "Chief U.S. District Court Judge Robert J. Chatigny has been cleared of all misconduct concerning his role in the death penalty litigation of serial killer Michael Ross, the Judicial Council of the Second Circuit announced July 26." Several charges were lodged against Judge Chatigny both for his temperment in handling the case as well as his invovlement in the case as a private lawyer many years before. The Judicial Council found that none of the complaints -- brought by seven state prosecutors -- merited a finding of misconduct. Chatigny's conduct, however, was not without error. He apologized for some of the rhetoric he employed when conducting a meeting with Ross's counsel and also admitted that had he known about his prior involvement in the case he would have recused himself.

The federal judiciary polices itself with the exception of impeachment and removal proceedings. Recently, several Congressman have claimed that the judiciary is doing a poor job and that a third party should be tasked with the job. It will be interesting to see Congress's reaction to this latest round of policing.

Bill Buckley weighs in on Lamont/Lieberman: Conservative voters don't have very much to applaud in Lieberman

Bill Buckley, a Stamford resident and unaffiliated voter, is arguably the most influential conservative thinker living in America. For over fifty years Mr. Buckley has helped shaped what it means to be a conservative. It's therefore not surprising that I am STRONGLY encouraging all to read his most recent missive, linked above, concerning the current status of the Lieberman candidacy. Mr. Buckley rightly points out that Sen. Lieberman is hardly a conservative and -- unlike the "Nedheads" -- uses Mr. Lieberman's voting record as the basis for that obvious conclusion. It's also worth noting that Mr. Buckely believes a Republican candidate "could" claim the seat, and finishes the piece with a bit of personal history:

"It is required, at this point, to note that the Republicans do have a candidate. His name is Alan Schlesinger. And if the New Democrats and the Revival Democrats have a bloody and internecine contest, the result could be ... a Republican senator from Connecticut! That was the chance Connecticut voters missed 26 years ago when they rejected the Republican candidate, who had for six years in the 1970s been acknowledged as the Sainted Junior Senator from New York, James L. Buckley.:

Kane Appointed Top Prosecutor, Chides Morano's Approach

The Hartford Courant is reporting that Kevin Kane has been selected as the next Chief State's Attorney. Kevin Kane is curently the state's attorney in New London and, including himself, he had the backing of twelve of the thirteen state's attorneys.

Since the creation of the post of chief state's attorney there has been a running debate over who controls the state's powers of prosecution. Although the chief state's attorney is chosen by the Criminal Justice Commission, he does not have the power to hire the state's attorneys or to otherwise direct their efforts. Kane made it clear that he believes the state's attorneys are the heart of the system and he took issue with current Chief State's Attorney Chris Morano.

The Connecticut Law Tribune reports: "Kane said the difference between his approach and that of the current chief, Christopher L. Morano, would be that he would work together with the state’s attorneys and would recognize their contributions to the criminal justice system. “They’re the ones who handle the criminal work in the Division. They haven’t been getting the credit and attention they deserve,” he emphasized.....To Kane, the job of the chief “never” includes getting involved with prosecutorial decisions by a state’s attorney, unless in situations of malfeasance."

Even without Kane's comments, the his selection should be viewed as confirmation that the state's attorneys and NOT the chief state's attorney control the system. Banding together, the state's attorneys were effectively able to end the candidacy of the current chief state's attorney as well as select his successor. Thus ends the debate! Of course, the question of whether such a system is ideal -- or intended -- will remain.

Probable Cause Found in Charges Against Former Chief Justice Sullivan, Public Hearing Set for Sept 6

Today the Council tasked with oversight of the state judiciary found probable cause to sustain charges leveled against former Chief Justice Sullivan. The charges surround CJ Sullivan's decision to withhold a Supreme Court opinion in the hopes of positively affecting the nomination of his successor. A public hearing has been set for September 6. Click on the link above for complete coverage from the Connecticut Law Tribune.

Top Prosecutor Withdraws Application

The state's top prosecutor, Chris Morano, announced today that he will not seek to continue as the chief state's attorney, a position he has held since 2002. Morano's candidacy appears to have been dogged by (among other things) the lack of support from eleven of the thirteen state's attorneys all of whom filed a letter against his candidacy. Morano's withdrawal clearly demonstrates that it is the state's attorneys and not the chief state's attorney that runs our state prosecutorial system. Not exactly a glowing demonstration of our criminal justice system....

Taxpayer Funded Convention Center Loses Another Event Due to Labor Strife

The Hartford Courant is reporting:

"The Connecticut Association of Nonprofits will have its Nov. 29 annual conference at the Farmington Marriott instead of the convention center, it announced Monday.

The association decided to move the event "on our own volition," having not been contacted by the unions involved, said association head Ron Cretaro.

In explaining the decision, Cretaro said the association didn't want its members - some of whom are unionized - or its guest speakers to have to cross a picket line. Also, the organization said it made its decision "out of respect for organized labor.""

Another setback for the Convention Center yet again based on a knee-jerk reaction to the disagreement between the operator of the Convention Center and several union groups.

PRRag.com: "Conn. 5th District: The seemingly insurmountable incumbent"

PRRag.com has a GREAT post concerning the Fifth Congressional District race between the incumbent, Nancy Johnson (R), and state senator Chris Murphy (D). This race looks to be very interesting and has received far too little coverage. You can access the post by clicking on the link above.

Wall Street Journal Applauds Lieberman's Decision

Today's edition of the Wall Street Journal contains a nice contrast to both the opinion piece contained in yesterday's Journal-Inquirer (thanks to the Connecticut Local Politics Blog) as well as Sen. Hillary Clinton's recent statement that she will not "stand by her man." The op-ed begins:

"Joe Lieberman's announcement Monday that he'll run as an independent if he loses the Democratic nomination is a remarkable commentary on the mind of the Democratic Party these days. A three-term Senator who was on his party's national ticket in 2000 is in danger of being drummed out of respectable Democratic company.

Mr. Lieberman may still win his August 8 Connecticut primary against millionaire and antiwar Democrat Ned Lamont. But the Senator feels unsure enough that he has taken the political risk of saying he will begin to collect the 7,500 signatures he'd need to file as an independent if he loses. A political neophyte, Mr. Lamont has nonetheless been adopted by antiwar Democrats, who see the contest as a way to purge national security hawks from party ranks and are pouring money into the contest."

The piece concludes:

"Connecticut's Senate race may turn out to be the most important election of the year. If Democrats drive Mr. Lieberman from their ranks, they will be sending Americans a message that George Soros and MoveOn.org dominate their party. This is all the more reason to applaud Mr. Lieberman for declaring that he won't easily be pushed from the Senate, whatever party banner he has to wave."