BP wants Houston judge with oil ties to hear spill cases

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: McClatchy news

MIAMI — Facing more than 100 lawsuits after its Gulf of Mexico oil spill killed 11 workers and threatened four coastal states, oil giant BP is asking the courts to place every pre-trial issue in the hands of a single federal judge in Houston.

That judge, U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes, has traveled the world giving lectures on ethics for the American Association of Petroleum Geologists, a professional association and research group that works with BP and other oil companies. The organization pays his travel expenses.

Hughes has also collected royalties from several energy companies, including ConocoPhillips and Devon Energy, from investments in mineral rights, his financial disclosure forms show.
Hughes, appointed to the bench in 1985 by then-President Ronald Reagan, declined to comment for this report.

Legal experts say the request for a single judge, while not unprecedented, is unusual, and they surmise BP is seeking rulings from a judge well-versed in the company's issues.
Lawyers for BP referred questions to a spokesman, who did not return calls Wednesday.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/26/94887/bp-wants-houston-judge-with-oil.html

[babylonsister]

1. And surely the judge will recuse himself.

:spray: I'm not at all surprised; I can only hope their request is denied.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Republicon justice is no justice at all

[Scuba]

3. Yeah, and I want Cheech Marin to preside over my pot bust.

[ShortnFiery]

4. Uh huh, and Tommy Chong to be the Foreman of the jury!

:silly: :thumbsup:

[nashville_brook]

5. of course they do.

[Ichingcarpenter]

6. Geez people there's no conspiracy they just want it in Houston because quote

'The company wants all of the oil spill lawsuits — at least 98 as of May 21 — to be heard in Houston because that's the home of BP's American headquarters, where many witnesses and records are located'

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/05/26/94887/bp-wants-houston-judge-with-oil.html#ixzz0p86Rgc1w


See, they are just trying to save gas and paperwork.......... get a grip

[nashville_brook]

7. naturally -- they only have our interests in mind.

[Canuckistanian]

8. They get to pick their own judges?

Wow, they ARE powerful.

[hobbit709]

9. I nominate Judge Isaac Parker.

[happyslug]

16. "hanging Judge" Parker would give a good lecture on top of the Death Sentence

AND he would observe the execution himself. His attitude is if he had sentence them, he should at least give them the courtesy of seeing the results of his rulings, as unpleasant as that result might be.

Please note he holds the record of the executing the most people on the same day in peacetime in the English Speaking word (Yes, during the Civil War, the US Army handed over 30 woodland Sioux but that was during War Time, and higher levels of executions occurred during the English Civil War, but both were during Wartime. Hitler killed more on, but the above statement is restricted to the English Speaking World NOT Hitler's Germany, Stalin's Russia or Mao' China).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Parker
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWparker.htm

The most famous person he sentenced was Belle Starr, who after being found guilty by the Jury was sentenced to the MINIMUM sentence permitted under the law by Judge Parker. This was more a warning to her to Stop giving a place to stay for the Cole Younger and the James Brothers (Who she knew from days they fought together as members of Quantrill Guerrillas, Belle Starr as a Dispatch Rider). After being released from Prison there are no tales of any of her former friends from the Civil War staying with her (She followed the Judge's "Advice" and cut all connections). When Belle Starr was murdered a few years later (The suspicion is one of her neighbors who is also believed to have set her up on the horse stealing charge) Judge Parker took extra efforts to find out who did it so that person could be tried in his court and hanged. No evidence was found and even Judge Parker would NOT sentence someone without evidence.

More on Belle Starr: Wikipedia takes the position she was a criminal, other researchers believes she knew people who turned outlaw after the Civil War and would keep them when they were on the run from the law, but took no part in any crimes herself. She was convicted of Horse Thief, but even Judge Parker had questions on the evidence, thus giving her the minimum sentence, not the maximum sentence he was so well know for.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Starr

[Dappleganger]

10. There's little doubt that BP will get the best judge and jury money can buy.

[paparush]

11. Captialism has failed.

[Auggie]

12. "Wants?" I'm surprised they're not demanding. n/t

[scentopine]

13. LOL! Communist China and Soviet Russia could not do

it any better than this banana republic called the United States.

Jesus, in the war against the non-rich and non-powerful all is fair.

[Yeahyeah]

14. Unacceptable.

[Javaman]

15. When in doubt stack the court.

well played BP, well played.

:eyes: