Judge Sasser was associate with Tharington-Smith

SleuthyGal said:

If this was really a problem, then why didn't the defense request Sasser to recuse herself or, alternatively, challenge her being the assigned judge to hear the custody case? The defense attorneys may not see the conflict-of-interest imagined here.

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SleuthyGal said:

If this was really a problem, then why didn't the defense request Sasser to recuse herself or, alternatively, challenge her being the assigned judge to hear the custody case? The defense attorneys may not see the conflict-of-interest imagined here.

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ncsu95 said:

I seriously doubt they knew. You honestly don't see this as a potential conflict of interest?

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SleuthyGal said:

You don't think the defense attorneys do their homework and know the background of each judge? If I were a client of such a law firm that did not do their due diligence I would consider them incompetent.

BTW, Judge Debra Sasser was elected 11/04 and her term expires this year (11/2008). District court judicial terms are 4 years.

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ncsu95 said:

So Judge Debra Sasser was an associate with Tharington-Smith before becoming a judge. Should she have recused herself from this case? The plaintiffs attorney was her former boss...could that possible show bias?

I disagree completely with the ruling, but I'm shocked to see she was a former associate with the firm.

And here are 2 seperate items proving this:

http://family.ncbar.org/Newsletters/Archived+Newsletters/Downloads_GetFile.aspx?id=4466


And then look what her name links to in this yellow pages ad:

http://www.trueyellow.com/attorney/Raleigh/NC/Page1/show.asp

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Topsail Girl said:

You hear lawyers say it all the time - "I don't like this judge" We need to wait for "the right judge". This applies to simple things like traffic court and complex issues like child support. Day in and day out those words are spoken to some client by some lawyer and you can bank on that.

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ncsu95 said:

Would you guys have issue if she used to work for K&B (and this isn't a setup for saying you'd have issue because it would indicate she was a moron....it's a serious question).

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Just the Fax said:

You actually think this is an issue ?
How many times each week do you think she sees a former colleague from T-S sitting at a defense or plaintiff table ? She is sworn to uphold the law.

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Just the Fax said:

Moot point....this firm is too sleazy to interest her.
However, if she did....absolutely no problem.

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SleuthyGal said:

Oh JTF...don't you know it's all a conspiracy to take away the defendant's constitutional rights in this case? I bet they have a secret handshake they all use--you know--that special T/S handshake, along with the judge. Laws/schmaws! Let's not let any of that get in the way of a good conspiracy. You know Stubbs used to be a judge at one time! I bet that's why they won the case...it's a favor for ex-judges. Shhhhhh.

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SleuthyGal said:

I don't think the judge is involved in a conspiracy. I'm sorry I don't support that theory.

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ncsu95 said:

I didn't say she was...I said I feel like it is a conflict of interest. You don't think it is possible that she might feel a little bias towards her former employer?

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SleuthyGal said:

I don't, no. But her feelings are besides the point; she took an oath to uphold the laws. She knows her decisions can be overturned if her rulings are not based on those laws. The legal community is a small one. People have worked at different law firms. Prior prosecutors sometimes become defense attorneys. Attorneys are appointed judges (or run for a judicial seat). This is not an uncommon occurrence.

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