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The federal judge who lifted Obama's six-month drilling moratorium had interests in Transocean and a number of other offshore energy companies, according to financial disclosure forms from 2008.

Martin Feldman, a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, held energy stocks in Transocean and Halliburton, as well as two of BP's largest U.S. private shareholders -- BlackRock and JP Morgan Chase. The law Feldman overturned would have halted the approval of any new permits and suspended deepwater drilling at 33 existing exploratory wells in the Gulf, four of which are BP rigs.

"It's pretty damning," said Kate Gordon, Vice President for Energy Policy at American Progress. "Transocean is the world's largest offshore drilling company. It holds most of the offshore drilling rigs in the world. So this is... a clear conflict of interest. I think folks should have known because of the history this region has of having conflicts of interests with judges on this issue. The region has got to have a list of judges that have these conflicts because this comes up all the time."

Thirty-seven of the 64 active or senior judges in key Gulf Coast districts in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida have links to oil, gas and related energy industries, including some who own stocks or bonds in BP PLC, Halliburton or Transocean, according to the Associated Press. Industry ties among federal judges are so widespread that they are jeopardizing the courts' ability to do routine business. Last month, for instance, so many members of the staunchly conservative Fifth Circuit were forced to excuse themselves from an appeal against various energy companies because there weren't enough untainted judges left to allow the court to hear the case.

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Of course, it may be even more judges with at least some financial tie to Big Oil - the rise of mutual funds over the past few decades mean that most people, if you dig deep enough, have some connection to oil or a wide range of other interests. I'm not a fan of damning judges because of the presence of any tie to something they may be called to judge on - I'd rather view the judge for how they rule and if a bias shows up in the outcomes of their judgement. I doubt we'd be hearing about this guy's fiduciary interests if he ruled in favor of the moratorium. Let's see what this guy has done in other judgements regarding Big Oil before we tar and feather him as a lackey of the industry.

UNHWildCats wrote:The federal judge who lifted Obama's six-month drilling moratorium had interests in Transocean and a number of other offshore energy companies, according to financial disclosure forms from 2008.

Martin Feldman, a U.S. District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana, held energy stocks in Transocean and Halliburton, as well as two of BP's largest U.S. private shareholders -- BlackRock and JP Morgan Chase. The law Feldman overturned would have halted the approval of any new permits and suspended deepwater drilling at 33 existing exploratory wells in the Gulf, four of which are BP rigs.

"It's pretty damning," said Kate Gordon, Vice President for Energy Policy at American Progress. "Transocean is the world's largest offshore drilling company. It holds most of the offshore drilling rigs in the world. So this is... a clear conflict of interest. I think folks should have known because of the history this region has of having conflicts of interests with judges on this issue. The region has got to have a list of judges that have these conflicts because this comes up all the time."

Thirty-seven of the 64 active or senior judges in key Gulf Coast districts in Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida have links to oil, gas and related energy industries, including some who own stocks or bonds in BP PLC, Halliburton or Transocean, according to the Associated Press. Industry ties among federal judges are so widespread that they are jeopardizing the courts' ability to do routine business. Last month, for instance, so many members of the staunchly conservative Fifth Circuit were forced to excuse themselves from an appeal against various energy companies because there weren't enough untainted judges left to allow the court to hear the case.

Freaking hilarious.

Speaking of a "conflict of interest", when she uttered those words, I'm surprised her tongue didn't jump out of her mouth in protest. George Soros bankrolls her employer and he (along with Obama) takes baths in Brazilian crude. They were in line to gain billions in business for Petrobras because of the moratorium.

Unbelievable.

Baldy wrote:
Speaking of a "conflict of interest", when she uttered those words, I'm surprised her tongue didn't jump out of her mouth in protest. George Soros bankrolls her employer and he (along with Obama) takes baths in Brazilian crude. They were in line to gain billions in business for Petrobras because of the moratorium.

Unbelievable.

Wait Bald one
Are you now saying the tail does wag the dog.. That the hidden hand of Big Business exists
Because you make a living telling us that the Federal Government isn't heavily influenced by people like Soros

Which one is it

Chizzang wrote:

Baldy wrote:
Speaking of a "conflict of interest", when she uttered those words, I'm surprised her tongue didn't jump out of her mouth in protest. George Soros bankrolls her employer and he (along with Obama) takes baths in Brazilian crude. They were in line to gain billions in business for Petrobras because of the moratorium.

Unbelievable.

Wait Bald one
Are you now saying the tail does wag the dog.. That the hidden hand of Big Business exists
Because you make a living telling us that the Federal Government isn't heavily influenced by people like Soros

Which one is it

There you go again, Cleets.

Right on queue, you (again) accuse me of saying something I have never said before.
We have got to find a way for you to pay a little closer attention. May I suggest Ritalin?

I understand the perception and in general I think we grant the Judiciary too much power relative to the other branches. As a general matter I don't think the Judiciary has any business inteferring with the Executive Branch in a situation like this.

However, I don't think Transocean is going to be hurt by a US ban on deepwater drilling in US waters. I think they will simply make their services available to other customers and they'll have plenty of takers. I think that the US needs Tranocean's services more than Transocean needs the United States. So I don't think this is a situation where a judge has to worry about losing money due to having stock in Transocean.

Chizzang wrote:

Baldy wrote:
Speaking of a "conflict of interest", when she uttered those words, I'm surprised her tongue didn't jump out of her mouth in protest. George Soros bankrolls her employer and he (along with Obama) takes baths in Brazilian crude. They were in line to gain billions in business for Petrobras because of the moratorium.

Unbelievable.

Wait Bald one
Are you now saying the tail does wag the dog.. That the hidden hand of Big Business exists
Because you make a living telling us that the Federal Government isn't heavily influenced by people like Soros

Which one is it

Yeah mother fucker. When you coming over for dinner? I got chops, quinoa and salad with your name on it.

Clarkwarne wrote:In Offshore drilling companies’ uses many facilitates that utilizing the drilling operation during the process. Actually, I want the list of offshore drilling companies, please provide it to me.

offshore drilling companies

Vidav will drill your ass soon.

Good for him, I dont care if he is.

Baldy wrote:

Chizzang wrote:
Wait Bald one
Are you now saying the tail does wag the dog.. That the hidden hand of Big Business exists
Because you make a living telling us that the Federal Government isn't heavily influenced by people like Soros

Which one is it

There you go again, Cleets.

Right on queue, you (again) accuse me of saying something I have never said before.
We have got to find a way for you to pay a little closer attention. May I suggest Ritalin?

Answer his damn question.......which one is it???

ALPHAGRIZ1 wrote:Good for him, I dont care if he is.

Of course you don't.........you only care about bashing Obama.