Legal Pad

Ronald M. George: Chief Justice, Ronald F. George: Clinton Donor

Chief Justice Ronald George … a Hillary Clinton supporter?

That’s what the FlashReport Web site claimed this morning when it posted “breaking news” — complete with the image of a flashing siren — that California’s top judge had contributed $2,300 to the Hillary Clinton for President campaign in 2008.

It was strange enough to read that the Republican appointee apparently backed a Democratic presidential wannabe. But more troubling was the fact that, if the claim was true, George’s contributions would have violated a state canon barring jurists from donating more than $500 a year to nonjudicial candidates.

The chief justice’s office has now responded: The Federal Elections Commission — and the FlashReport — got the wrong Ron George, his top aide says.

“I can tell you unequivocally, the chief did not do this,” said Beth Jay, George’s principal attorney. George was attending a conference Monday.

Obama Installs Pacific Legal Foundation Lawyer at Legal Services Corp.

Maybe President Obama really is into the whole post-partisanship thing.

The president on Thursday announced that he was nominating Sharon Browne, an attorney with the conservative Pacific Legal Foundation, to the Legal Services Corporation Board of Directors.

Yes, that’s the same Pacific Legal Foundation that filed an amicus brief seven years ago in support of litigation challenging the legality of IOLTAs, or Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts. And yes, that’s the same Legal Services Corp. that awards grants to local legal aid programs and encourages them to make that money go further by seeking other funding … like IOLTA.

So she’ll help run the group that helps people do stuff she doesn’t want them to do. After the jump …

Sonsini, Feldman to Host Shindig for Carly Fiorina's Senate Run

GOP kingmakers? Sonsini, Feldman.

Don’t think that Wilson Sonsini is just a bunch of Democrats run amok, what with John Roos becoming Obama’s ambassador to Japan. The most powerful man at the firm, Larry Sonsini himself, is an out-and-out Republican. And tonight he and another powerful Wilson partner, Boris Feldman, will be hosting a fundraiser for Carly Fiorina, former HP CEO and apparently the Republicans’ best chance at taking down three-term California Senator Barbara Boxer.

Sure, Fiorina is richer than God, but doesn’t seem like she’s got much of a chance against Boxer, a California fav who usually wins by a landslide. Still it can’t hurt to have friends like Sonsini and Feldman. Says a Fiorina campaign staffer: “Both are long-time friends of Carly’s, and she is grateful for their support.”

Feldman, a securities litigator and the Annie Leibovitz of Silicon Valley, has always been a staunch Republican. Sonsini has too, donating money to the presidential campaigns of W, Rudy Giuliani and, finally, John McCain. But Sonsini also has a soft-spot for local Democratic congresswoman Anna Eshoo. As in many previous years, he has once again turned his pockets inside out for her. And Eshoo has always repaid the kindness. Remember the congressional hearings on the HP pre-texting scandal?

— Zusha Elinson

John Roos: The Toast of Tokyo

Hey! Who’s that raising a shot glass right next to the leader of the free world? Yes, it’s our beloved Wilson Sonsini CEO turned Japanese ambassador, John Roos raising a toast to what we can only guess is a lasting peace with the Japanese, to be forever enshrined in the history books as the "Sake Summit." Or he could be toasting to the fact that he doesn’t have to deal with partner compensation at Wilson Sonsini this year

President Barack Obama and the U.S delegation toast with Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and the Japanese delegation at a dinner at the prime minister's official residence following their bilateral meeting and joint press conference in Tokyo. November 13, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

We see Roos as literally Obama’s right-hand man thanks to the official White House page. You see the only photo, and the White House caption, above, but you’ll find the entire Nov. 13 entry in the ongoing series, “What Obama Does All Day,” in this set (the above photo is No. 6).

— Zusha Elinson

Former Munger Lawyer, Rookie Ambassador, Gets Big Sendoff

Jeff Bleich had a word of advice to all his mates out there flooding his Facebook page with all things Aussie.

“If you stop sending me e-mails about Foster’s beer and your favorite Crocodile Dundee lines, I’ll re-friend you,” he told a crowd of about 200 late Friday in the San Francisco City Hall rotunda just after being sworn in as the ambassador to Australia.

The event, organized by Bleich’s now former law firm — Munger, Tolles & Olson — had quite a turnout. California Chief Justice Ronald George was on hand, as were several judges, including First District Justice Martin Jenkins. A group of State Bar folk, including Executive Director Judy Johnson, attended as a reminder of Bleich’s year as State Bar president.

Christopher Paul De Cure, the L.A.-based Australian consulate general, showed up, as did baseball great Willie Mays, a longtime friend and client of Bleich’s.

We can’t believe we had to show up to work on “Jeff Bleich Day.” More after the jump …

Partisan Politics Entangle Judicial Confirmation Process

Two nominees for the federal bench in the Bay Area got through the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee today, but not before Republicans lined up solidly against one of them.

While San Jose-based Magistrate Judge Richard Seeborg sailed through on a voice vote, his colleague from San Francisco, Edward Chen, got through on a party line 12-7 tally. Ranking Republican Jeff Sessions of Alabama criticized Chen for his some of his writings and speeches, along with his long tenure as an ACLU staffer. An “ACLU chromosome” runs through President Obama’s judicial nominees, Sessions declared, prompting loud groans from Chairman Patrick Leahy and other Democrats.

Not-so-smooth sailing ahead? .... After the jump.

Who Didn't Get Disciplined For Doing Something Bad Before Joining the Bench? Guess.

Hey, kids! Time to play a round of Name That Ninth Circuit Judge. This episode is brought to you by the court’s judicial discipline authorities, and hosted by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski.

Let’s get right to it: According to an order issued last week, the court can’t punish a judge for misconduct committed before he (or she!) joined the federal bench. In addition, it cannot consider “complainant’s allegation that the Senate would not have confirmed the judge if it knew of the alleged misconduct.”

That’s not all. Wrote Kozinski: “Complainant also alleges that negative press attention attracted by the judge has had ‘a prejudicial effect on the administration of the business of the courts.’ Even assuming that is so, press attention is not ‘conduct’ by a judge.” Case dismissed!

Guess the judge, after the jump

Chen, Grilled on ACLU Past, Gets Interesting Defense From Feinstein

Legal Pad wasn’t too surprised that the ranking Republican went after Edward Chen at his confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee. After all, Chen — a Northern District magistrate whom President Obama nominated for a district court slot here — worked for (cue Darth Vader music now) the ACLU for 16 years. In the eyes of the Republican National Committee, liberal/socialist/Trotskyite judges make for some of the best fundraising appeals.

But it was California Democrat Dianne Feinstein’s defense of her home state nominee that was more curious.

It's True, You Never See Jeff Bleich and Clark Kent in the Same Place ...

Fresh from working 15-plus hour days at the White House, thousands of miles from his family, Bay Area lawyer Jeff Bleich has been tasked with a new assignment: ambassador to Australia. The Munger, Tolles & Olson partner took a leave from the firm in March to work for his friend, President Obama, in the White House counsel’s office, vetting nominees and other sensitive stuff. Legal Pad isn’t quite sure how a posting Down Under will help Bleich further his career -- he's long been said to dream of the appellate bench -- and he declined to answer questions. But we gotta think serving in a country that’s a close ally, with stunning landscapes and killer weather, has gotta be attractive.

The Australian press is giddy about having the American ambassador be the personal friend of the president, thinking it reflects the importance with which Obama views Canberra. One article even called Bleich Obama’s “superman.” Legal Pad can only hope this will form the basis for weeks of trash talk from his friends.

—  Dan Levine

Chrysler U-Turns on Pre-Bankruptcy Liability

Chrysler Group has changed its mind and will now accept liability for cars manufactured before the company emerged from bankruptcy on June 10, the automaker told Congress in a letter Thursday.

The announcement follows complaints by consumer groups and attorneys that the newly formed Chrysler company was shirking responsibility for accidents caused by defects in its pre-bankruptcy vehicles.

"We want our customers to feel comfortable and confident buying, driving and enjoying one of our vehicles," Chrysler Group Senior Vice President John Bozzella said in a prepared statement. "While Chrysler Group still faces challenges, we are confident that the future viability of the company will not be threatened if we accept these claims."

Prior to Chrysler’s announcement Thursday, federal and even California lawmakers had considered drafting legislation to restore tort rights to old Chrysler vehicle owners.

“We are heartened that Chrysler understands the need to accept responsibility for defective products,” Christine Spagnoli, president of the Consumer Attorneys of California, said in a press release. “We look forward to resolving legitimate cases in a way that provides justice for victims and their families."

Claims filed against Chrysler before the automaker’s bankruptcy will still have to compete with other creditors’ demands.

— Cheryl Miller
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