www.wsj.com Open in urlscan Pro
2600:9000:206f:e400:3:4b0:de80:93a1  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to Main ContentSkip to SearchSkip to...
Select
 * Listen to Article
 * What To Read Next

SubscribeSign In



HIDDEN INTERESTSFEDERAL JUDGES WITH FINANCIAL CONFLICTS


THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ANALYZED NEARLY A DECADE’S WORTH OF LEGAL AND FINANCIAL
RECORDS AND DISCOVERED 131 FEDERAL JUDGES WHO UNLAWFULLY HEARD CASES WHERE THEY
HAD A FINANCIAL INTEREST.

Look at U.S. District Judge Brian Martinotti. The New Jersey judge traded Wells
Fargo stock while hearing a case where the bank was the defendant, and ruled in
its favor. Federal law bars judges from hearing cases in which they or their
family hold stocks in the plaintiff or defendant.

Docket No. 3:16-cv-05729

KRAFT v. WELLS FARGO & COMPANY

WSJ investigationAugust 2021WSJ notified Martinottiof the violation on Aug.
11,and the clerk notified theparties in the case on Aug. 12Case terminatedMarch
31, 2020Martinotti denied plaintiff's motion for reconsiderationRulingJuly
2019Martinotti grantedWells Fargo's motionto dismissCase filedSept. 20,
2016Complaint sought to recover a property foreclosed on byWells FargoTwo
purchases ofWells Fargo stockAug. 27, 2018,Aug. 28, 2018Partial sale ofWells
Fargo stockDec. 12, 2018
This was among the 44 times that Judge Martinotti improperly heard cases between
2010 and 2018 while he held stock in one of the parties to the litigation. After
the Journal told Judge Martinotti of his violations, he directed court clerks to
tell parties in those cases that he shouldn’t have heard the suits, including
the Wells Fargo case. The letters, publicly filed on the case dockets, said the
investments didn’t affect his decisions. Judge Martinotti didn’t respond to
requests for comment.

In addition to Judge Martinotti, the Journal found 60 other federal judges or
family members who actively traded shares of companies that were plaintiffs or
defendants in 170 separate court cases.

Docket No. 07-2282Ford Motor Co. v. Mustangs Unlimited, Inc.Julia Gibbons
+ F
+ F
2011-01-182011-04-22
Docket No. 2:13-cv-10277E3A v. Bank of America, NAGershwin Drain
+ BAC
2013-01-222013-04-11
Docket No. 3:10-cv-00359Tassone, Michael v. Ecolab Inc.William Conley
+ PPG
2010-06-292011-05-16
Docket No. 1:10-cv-02519Malatesta v. Wyeth LLCCharles Norgle Sr.
- PFE
- PFE
- PFE
2010-04-232010-07-15
Docket No. 1:18-cv-00450Jackson v. Wal-Mart Inc.Michael Barrett
+ WMT
+ WMT
- WMT
2018-07-032019-09-23
Docket No. 3:13-cv-00276Jones v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LPWilliam Barbour Jr.
+ WMT
2013-05-082013-12-23
Docket No. 2:11-cv-00912Walter v. Wells Fargo Bank, NAGregory Frost
+ WFC
2011-10-122012-02-28
Docket No. 1:11-cv-02683Wessler v. Colonial National MortgageR. Brooke Jackson
+ WFC
2011-10-142012-11-28
Docket No. 8:16-cv-01453Watson v. Medtronic IncMary Lewis
- MDT
- MDT
+ MDT
2016-05-052017-06-20
Docket No. 1:12-cv-01367Schwitzer v. Wells Fargo Bank, NAR. Brooke Jackson
+ WFC
2012-05-252013-02-20
Docket No. 2:15-cv-00025Boyd v. Boeing CompanyLance Africk
+ BA
+ BA
+ BA
+ BA
2015-01-072016-06-28
Docket No. 1:12-cv-01000Bath v. J.P. Morgan National Corporate Services, Inc.R.
Brooke Jackson
+ JPM
2012-04-132012-10-24
Docket No. 1:15-cv-01418Mayo v. General Motors LLCR. Brooke Jackson
- HON
2015-07-042018-07-17
Docket No. 2:16-cv-00590Glasgow v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LPHenry Morgan Jr.
- WMT
2016-10-052017-06-06
Docket No. 2:11-cv-00692Millis v. Enterprise Products Co.Helen Berrigan
+ EPD
2011-03-302012-05-08
Docket No. 1:10-cv-05924Deutsche Bank AG National Trust Company v. Spradling et
alCharles Norgle Sr.
+ DB
+ DB
+ DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
2010-09-172011-05-12
Docket No. 1:10-cv-01193Simonian v. Pfizer, Inc.Charles Norgle Sr.
+ PFE
+ PFE
+ PFE
+ PFE
- PFE
+ PFE
+ PFE
- PFE
- PFE
- PFE
- PFE
2010-02-232011-05-23
Docket No. 2:16-cv-00501Barco v. Wal-Mart Stores East LPHenry Morgan Jr.
- WMT
2016-08-222017-05-08
Docket No. 1:13-cv-00925Oberly v. Wing Enterprises, Inc.R. Brooke Jackson
- HD
2013-04-102014-01-24
Docket No. 1:14-cv-03092Mayotte v. US Bank National AssociationR. Brooke Jackson
- WFC
- WFC
2014-11-172019-11-29
Docket No. 1:10-cv-02116Danysh v. Eli Lilly and CompanyJohn Jones III
+ LLY
2010-10-122011-09-15
Docket No. 1:18-cv-05114Walleye Trading LLC v. AbbVie IncCharles Kocoras
- ABBV
2018-07-262019-09-18
Docket No. 1:14-cv-20506Lopez v. Target CorporationMarcia Cooke
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
2014-02-102015-03-20
Docket No. 3:12-cv-00703Grant v. Wal-Mart (MAG+)Mark Fuller
- WMT
+ WMT
- WMT
2012-08-152013-02-22
Docket No. 2:18-cv-12132Northstar Facility Services, Inc. v. Walmart Stores,
Inc.Gershwin Drain
+ WMT
2018-07-082019-06-13
Docket No. 1:12-cv-00679General Electric Capital Corporation v. Central Concrete
Pumping, Inc.R. Brooke Jackson
+ GE
+ GE
2012-03-162013-11-07
Docket No. 1:11-cv-03006Berlet v. Chase Home Finance LLCR. Brooke Jackson
+ JPM
2011-11-172013-05-09
Docket No. 2:13-cv-11095Revocable Living Trust of Pamela Kelly v. Cisco Systems,
Inc. Welfare Benefit PlanStephen Murphy III
- CSCO
2013-03-122014-03-29
Docket No. 4:14-cv-04814Cunningham v. Medtronic Inc.Haywood Gilliam Jr.
+ MDT
- MDT
+ MDT
2014-10-302018-08-24
Docket No. 1:18-cv-00518Williams v. WalMart's, PresidentMichael Barrett
+ WMT
+ WMT
- WMT
2018-07-262019-03-05
Docket No. 2:15-cv-01365MARUCCI v. NOVO NORDISK, INC.Maurice Cohill
- NVO
2015-10-212016-06-22
Docket No. 5:12-cv-01435BENETECH, INC. v. PPL GENERATION, LLCJames Gardner
+ PPL
2012-03-212012-11-09
Docket No. 4:12-cv-13758Tkatch v. Bank of AmericaGershwin Drain
+ BAC
2012-08-242013-10-01
Docket No. 2:12-cv-12685Brown v. Bank of America, N.A.Robert Cleland
+ BAC
+ BAC
2012-06-192012-12-13
Docket No. 2:15-cv-01409HIGGINS v. Wells Fargo & Co. BANK, N.A.Claire Cecchi
+ WFC
- WFC
+ WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
2015-02-242017-08-07
Docket No. 2:15-cv-08099Merck & Co. Inc., SHARP & DOHME CORP. v. HETERO USA
INC.Claire Cecchi
- MRK
2015-11-162016-01-11
Docket No. 1:11-cv-03393Munholland v. Wells Fargo Bank National Association as
TrusteeR. Brooke Jackson
+ WFC
2011-12-282013-03-18
Docket No. 1:12-cv-01105Bovino v. Apple, Inc.R. Brooke Jackson
+ AAPL
- AAPL
2012-04-262013-05-16
Docket No. 7:14-cv-05008Toelle v. Walmart Associates, Inc.John Gerrard
- WMT
2014-05-202015-11-19
Docket No. 2:17-cv-00082Thornton v. Starbucks CorporationW. Harold Albritton III
+ SBUX
2017-02-102018-01-23
Docket No. 1:12-cv-01492Lopez, et al., v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., et alR. Brooke
Jackson
+ WFC
2012-06-082012-11-19
Docket No. 5:10-cv-01438Ramiro Lopez v. Bank of AmericaGeorge King
+ BAC
2010-09-202010-11-30
Docket No. 1:15-cv-00528Davidson v. CSX Transportation, Inc.Susan Dlott
- CSX
- CSX
2015-08-122017-06-14
Docket No. 2:12-cv-12944Conroy v. Target CorporationStephen Murphy III
+ TGT
2012-07-052013-06-14
Docket No. 2:17-cv-12210Sims v. OsbornGershwin Drain
+ ALL
+ ALL
2017-07-062019-02-25
Docket No. 2:17-cv-12567Special Tree Rehabilitation System v. Allstate Property
and Casualty Ins. Co.Gershwin Drain
+ ALL
+ ALL
2017-08-082018-08-09
Docket No. 1:15-cv-12859Hine v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.Thomas Ludington
+ HD
2015-08-122016-06-16
Docket No. 2:18-cv-13124Harris v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LP and/or Wal-Mart
Stores, Inc.Gershwin Drain
+ WMT
2018-10-052018-11-01
Docket No. 1:10-cv-06270Deutsche Bank AG National Trust Company v. Fischer, Sr.
et alCharles Norgle Sr.
+ DB
+ DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
2010-09-302011-03-09
Docket No. 1:18-cv-00176Krick v. Medtronic, Inc.Janet Neff
+ MDT
- MDT
2018-02-202019-06-18
Docket No. 1:10-cv-05990Deutsche Bank AG National Trust Company v. Batastini et
alCharles Norgle Sr.
+ DB
+ DB
+ DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
2010-09-212011-05-17
Docket No. 1:11-cv-00625Campbell v. Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals,
Inc.Robert Gettleman
+ JNJ
2011-01-282011-10-05
Docket No. 3:15-cv-00447Walding v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.W. Harold Albritton
III
+ HD
2015-06-232016-05-05
Docket No. 1:11-cv-01316Hankerson v. IBM Lender Business Process Services,
Inc.Timothy Batten Sr.
- IBM
2011-04-222012-06-11
Docket No. 2:17-cv-13503Faraj v. Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.Gershwin Drain
+ SWK
- SWK
- SWK
2017-10-272018-10-16
Docket No. 2:15-cv-11964Brody v. Allstate Vehicle and Property Insurance
CompanyGershwin Drain
- ALL
2015-06-012016-11-08
Docket No. 1:15-cv-02028McKeehan v. Home Depot USA, Inc.R. Brooke Jackson
- HD
2015-09-162016-06-14
Docket No. 2:15-cv-11707Mitchell v. Allstate Insurance CompanyGershwin Drain
- ALL
2015-05-132015-11-12
Docket No. 2:11-cv-07793SANTIAGO v. WAL-MARTMitchell Goldberg
- WMT
2011-12-222012-09-26
Docket No. 6:11-cv-06156Wheelock v. Home Depot USA, Inc.Michael Hogan
- HD
2011-05-062011-12-16
Docket No. 2:17-cv-12339Lemieux v. Exxon Mobil CorporationAvern Cohn
- XOM
2017-07-192019-01-24
Docket No. 2:13-cv-10226Masck v. Sports IllustratedGershwin Drain
+ AMZN
- AMZN
2013-01-182014-05-28
Docket No. 4:15-cv-03007Akins v. WalmartJohn Gerrard
- WMT
2015-01-142015-07-08
Docket No. 1:09-cv-00428Baker v. PPL CorporationChristopher Conner
+ PPL
2009-03-062012-02-23
Docket No. 3:18-cv-00910Ryans v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LPMary Lewis
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
2018-04-042019-06-14
Docket No. 2:11-cv-00952Perkins v. Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.Gregory Frost
+ WFC
2011-10-242012-10-18
Docket No. 3:14-cv-00719Nelson, Darren v. Walmart Stores, Inc.William Conley
+ WMT
- WMT
2014-10-202015-10-16
Docket No. 1:10-cv-05293Deutsche Bank AG National Trust Company v.
PalumboCharles Norgle Sr.
+ DB
+ DB
- DB
+ DB
+ DB
+ DB
2010-08-212010-11-19
Docket No. 3:15-cv-05115Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. DeggingerM. Douglas Harpool
- WFC
+ WFC
- WFC
2015-11-042016-12-05
Docket No. 1:11-cv-00348Wells Fargo Bank, NA v. CookSharon Johnson Coleman
- WFC
2011-01-172011-08-31
Docket No. 6:16-cv-03873Patterson v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc Associates' Health and
Welfare PlanMary Lewis
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
2016-12-122017-08-31
Docket No. 2:15-cv-00390JOYCE v. Wells Fargo & Co. BANK, N.A.Claire Cecchi
+ WFC
- WFC
+ WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
2015-01-202017-05-25
Docket No. 4:16-cv-00150Richardson v. Wal-Mart Stores East, LPHenry Morgan Jr.
- WMT
2016-09-222017-09-26
Docket No. 4:11-cv-14198Holton v. Bank of America, NAGershwin Drain
+ BAC
2011-09-232013-04-10
Docket No. 4:12-cv-15395Billops v. Target CorporationGershwin Drain
+ TGT
2012-12-072014-02-28
Docket No. 2:14-cv-10065Hunt v. Allstate Property and Casualty Insurance
CompanyGershwin Drain
- ALL
2014-01-072015-09-25
Docket No. 1:15-cv-01734Obduskey v. Wells FargoR. Brooke Jackson
- WFC
2015-08-122016-07-19
Docket No. 8:17-cv-00590Mack v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc Associates Health and
Welfare PlanMary Lewis
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
+ WMT
2017-03-032017-08-30
Docket No. 1:11-cv-01450Watts v. DoeTimothy Batten Sr.
- JPM
2011-05-042011-06-21
Docket No. 4:12-cv-15469Khudhir v. JP Morgan Chase BankGershwin Drain
+ JPM
2012-12-132014-01-27
Docket No. 8:15-cv-00148Wohlers v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.John Gerrard
- WMT
2015-04-292016-07-27
Docket No. 2:17-cv-11892Monroe v. Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon
WirelessGershwin Drain
- VZ
2017-06-142018-07-27
Docket No. 2:15-cv-00871THOMAS v. Wells Fargo & Co. BANKClaire Cecchi
+ WFC
- WFC
2015-02-042016-01-29
Docket No. 1:13-cv-23703Monserrate v. Target CorporationMarcia Cooke
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
2013-10-112014-09-11
Docket No. 4:12-cv-14407Mastalski v. Bank of America, N.A.Gershwin Drain
+ BAC
2012-10-052013-02-19
Docket No. 1:14-cv-00979CSX Transportation, Inc. v. Lego Demolition, LLCSusan
Dlott
+ CSX
2014-12-262016-05-25
Docket No. 5:13-cv-01634Layton v. Chevron Environmental Management CoS. Maurice
Hicks Jr.
+ CVX
2013-06-132014-06-30
Docket No. 1:12-cv-24388Engelhardt v. Target CorporationMarcia Cooke
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
2012-12-122015-02-25
Docket No. 1:11-cv-02903Wells Fargo Bank, NA v. MelchorSharon Johnson Coleman
- WFC
2011-04-302011-08-12
Docket No. 1:12-cv-01135Saathoff v. Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.R. Brooke Jackson
+ HD
2012-05-012013-02-15

Pulling back the lens further reveals a broader pattern of violations: 131
federal judges inappropriately heard 685 cases between 2010 and 2018 while they
or their family held stock in companies that were parties to the case, the
Journal investigation revealed.

+ F
+ F
2011-01-182011-04-22
+ BAC
2013-01-222013-04-11















+ PPG
2010-06-292011-05-16




- PFE
- PFE
- PFE
2010-04-232010-07-15






+ WMT
+ WMT
- WMT
2018-07-032019-09-23





+ WMT
2013-05-082013-12-23





+ WFC
2011-10-122012-02-28










+ WFC
2011-10-142012-11-28


- MDT
- MDT
+ MDT
2016-05-052017-06-20
+ WFC
2012-05-252013-02-20

+ BA
+ BA
+ BA
+ BA
2015-01-072016-06-28
+ JPM
2012-04-132012-10-24



- HON
2015-07-042018-07-17















- WMT
2016-10-052017-06-06





+ EPD
2011-03-302012-05-08
+ DB
+ DB
+ DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
2010-09-172011-05-12




+ PFE
+ PFE
+ PFE
+ PFE
- PFE
+ PFE
+ PFE
- PFE
- PFE
- PFE
- PFE
2010-02-232011-05-23









- WMT
2016-08-222017-05-08









- HD
2013-04-102014-01-24

- WFC
- WFC
2014-11-172019-11-29







+ LLY
2010-10-122011-09-15
























- ABBV
2018-07-262019-09-18





- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
- TGT
2014-02-102015-03-20









- WMT
+ WMT
- WMT
2012-08-152013-02-22




+ WMT
2018-07-082019-06-13







+ GE
+ GE
2012-03-162013-11-07





+ JPM
2011-11-172013-05-09

- CSCO
2013-03-122014-03-29


+ MDT
- MDT
+ MDT
2014-10-302018-08-24
+ WMT
+ WMT
- WMT
2018-07-262019-03-05



- NVO
2015-10-212016-06-22



+ PPL
2012-03-212012-11-09

+ BAC
2012-08-242013-10-01
+ BAC
+ BAC
2012-06-192012-12-13







+ WFC
- WFC
+ WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
- WFC
2015-02-242017-08-07







- MRK
2015-11-162016-01-11



+ WFC
2011-12-282013-03-18


+ AAPL
- AAPL
2012-04-262013-05-16









- WMT
2014-05-202015-11-19





+ SBUX
2017-02-102018-01-23



+ WFC
2012-06-082012-11-19




+ BAC
2010-09-202010-11-30



- CSX
- CSX
2015-08-122017-06-14
















+ TGT
2012-07-052013-06-14

+ ALL
+ ALL
2017-07-062019-02-25

+ ALL
+ ALL
2017-08-082018-08-09

+ HD
2015-08-122016-06-16
+ WMT
2018-10-052018-11-01







+ DB
+ DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
2010-09-302011-03-09



+ MDT
- MDT
2018-02-202019-06-18




















+ DB
+ DB
+ DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
- DB
2010-09-212011-05-17








+ JNJ
2011-01-282011-10-05
+ HD
2015-06-232016-05-05
- IBM
2011-04-222012-06-11






+ SWK
- SWK
- SWK
2017-10-272018-10-16







- ALL
2015-06-012016-11-08




- HD
2015-09-162016-06-14






https://www.wsj.com/articles/hidden-interest-judges-financial-conflicts-graphic-11632834079

Hidden Interests


FEDERAL JUDGES WITH FINANCIAL CONFLICTS


THE WALL STREET JOURNAL ANALYZED A NEARLY A DECADE’S WORTH OF LEGAL AND
FINANCIAL RECORDS AND DISCOVERED 131 FEDERAL JUDGES WHO UNLAWFULLY HEARD CASES
WHERE THEY HAD A FINANCIAL INTEREST.

By
Andrew Levinson ,
Coulter Jones ,
Ava Sasani ,
Joe Palazzolo and
James V. Grimaldi
Sept. 28, 2021 9:03 am ET

Share

Text

Your browser does not support the audio tag.
Listen to article
Length (2 minutes)
AD
Loading advertisement...
00:00 / 01:35
1x

This article is in your queue.
Open Queue

Over the past several weeks, the Journal has informed these judges of their
recusal violations. As a result, 56 federal judges have notified courts in 329
cases around the U.S. that they heard cases improperly and that parties to the
case could ask for them to be reopened.

The law is crystal clear. It bars any “ownership of a legal or equitable
interest, however small,” in a party to a case before a judge. That law and the
federal courts’ policy-making body require judges to avoid even the appearance
of a conflict.

Subscribe Sign In


CONTINUE READING YOUR ARTICLE WITH
A WSJ MEMBERSHIP


SPECIAL OFFER


€2 PER MONTH FOR 1 YEAR

View Membership Options


RESUME SUBSCRIPTION

We are delighted that you'd like to resume your subscription.

You will be charged $ + tax (if applicable) for The Wall Street Journal. You may
change your billing preferences at any time in the Customer Center or call
Customer Service. You will be notified in advance of any changes in rate or
terms. You may cancel your subscription at anytime by calling Customer Service.

Please click confirm to resume now.

Confirm






Customer CenterSubscriber AgreementPrivacy NoticeCookie Notice© 2022 Dow Jones &
Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved.