Judicial Panel Advances Proposal on Judges’ Financial Recusals

A federal courts committee advanced a proposal that aims to make it easier for judges to evaluate potential financial interests in certain companies appearing in their courtrooms and recuse themselves when needed.

The Judicial Conference’s advisory committee on civil rules voted Tuesday to submit the amended language on disclosure rules to the judiciary’s committee on rules of practice and procedure, also known as the standing committee, for final approval.

The proposed change “should significantly benefit” judges in determining whether financial interests require recusal, said Senior Judge Sarah Vance of the District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, who leads ...