BREAKING: Judge who served on Planned Parenthood board recuses himself from lawsuit
A federal judge who served as president of Planned Parenthood Association of Cincinnati has recused himself from a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood of Southwest Ohio against the state.
According to Cincinnati.com, today:
“Sometimes, the perception is as important as the reality,” U.S. District Judge Timothy Black said in a statement. “Although lawyers and judges recognize that an association of more than 25 years ago does not create a conflict of interest, citizens are likely to view that question more viscerally.”
He will be replaced by U.S. District Judge Michael R. Barrett, attorneys for both sides in the case said Saturday.
Planned Parenthood earlier this week sued to challenge an Ohio law that could lead to the closure of its Cincinnati clinic, the last remaining site in the area that performs abortions. The new law, passed last year, requires abortion clinics to create a patient-transffer agreement with a private hospital to stay open. Planned Parenthood’s Elizabeth Campbell Surgical Center in Mount Auburn previously partnered with UC Health, but could not find a private partner. That led the Ohio Department of Health to move to revoke its license and close the clinic.
The center’s closure would make the 2.1-million-person Cincinnati region the largest metro area in the U.S. without an abortion clinic, according to an Enquirer analysis.
That led to this week’s federal suit lawsuit, with Planned Parenthood asking that the law be struck down. The clinic also asked Black to issue a temporary restraining order keeping the health department from shutting it down until he rules on the full case.
Also read my previous post on this story.
Jill Stanek is a nurse turned speaker, columnist and blogger, a national figure in the effort to protect both preborn and postborn innocent human life.
“Although lawyers and judges recognize that an association of more than 25 years ago does not create a conflict of interest, citizens are likely to view that question more viscerally.”
What an elitist snob. I guess he’s just admitting that us common citizens have more common sense and integrity than he does.
I am proud of Judge Black. It is an honorable thing to recuse oneself whenever there is a question of impartiality.
This is admiration for a judge who put the public’s trust ahead of his own pride.
I believe the only reason he is stepping down is because he realizes people are watching. But what do I know? I’m not a lawyer or a judge.
That is a good enough reason, Prax.
Judges recuse themselves because they are too close to a case such that the public might suspect them of being partial to one party or the other.
It would be much worse if he stayed on the case.
Wow, this guy must have had a change of heart and he is pro-life now. How else could you explain the integrity?
Right, Del. I was pointing out if he didn’t believe he was being watched, he would probably not have recused himself.
I see his statement as one of arrogance.
It is self serving of Timmy Black to characterize as ‘viscerally’ motivated any objection to his presiding over a trial where he has had a 25 year relationship with one of the parties.
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I challenge to Black to find one fellow jurists who would publicly support any judge at any level presiding over a trial given the same set of circumstances.
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It is Timmy Blacks reaction to the reasoned objections to his participation in this trial that is ‘visceral’.