Federal judge in Oklahoma may be questioned about possible ethical violations

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma federal judge in line for a federal appeals court position will be questioned about possible ethical violations.<br/><br/>Tracy Schmaler is a spokeswoman for Vermont Senator

Friday, February 3rd 2006, 6:37 am

By: News On 6


OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- An Oklahoma federal judge in line for a federal appeals court position will be questioned about possible ethical violations.

Tracy Schmaler is a spokeswoman for Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Schmaler says US District Judge James Payne of Muskogee will likely be quizzed about a news report from Salon.com that said he's issued about 100 court orders in 18 cases involving corporation in which he owned stock.

Schmaler said judicial ethics has always been a line of inquiry that interests Leahy, who recently introduced legislation on the topic.

Payne has declined comment.

The Judiciary Committee hasn't set a hearing date.

President Bush last fall nominated Payne to fill a vacancy on the Tenth US Circuit Court of Appeals, which Oklahoma and five other states.
logo

Get The Daily Update!

Be among the first to get breaking news, weather, and general news updates from News on 6 delivered right to your inbox!

More Like This

February 3rd, 2006

March 14th, 2024

December 4th, 2023

September 25th, 2023

Top Headlines

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024

March 29th, 2024