Fifth Circuit Judge’s Participation In CFPB Late Fee Case Makes A Mockery Of Judicial Ethics
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jeff Hauser, jeffhauser@gmail.com
In response to a Politico report that Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Don Willett – who is hearing the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s legal challenge to the CFPB’s $8 cap on credit card late fees – holds shares in Citigroup, Revolving Door Project Executive Director Jeff Hauser issued the following statement:
“Judge Willett’s stock holdings in Chamber member Citigroup – a gigantic credit card company – pose an obvious conflict of interest. His decision to hear this case and affirm the Chamber’s egregious judge-shopping gambit makes a mockery of the notion of an independent judiciary. Furthermore, it contradicts Willett’s own promise to the Senate to recuse from matters in which he held a financial conflict of interest. Judges staying on cases despite clear conflicts of interest discredits the federal judiciary at all levels, from the District Courts to the Supreme Court. We’re not demanding judicial penury – instead of playing the market like gambling addicts, judges could simply buy a diversified retirement fund!”
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