The well-oiled wheels of justice
Date on which federal Judge Martin Feldman (pictured at right) of the Eastern District of Louisiana overturned President Obama's six-month ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico: 6/22/2010Year in which Feldman was appointed to his post by President Reagan: 1983
Date as of which Feldman still owned stock in Ocean Energy Inc., a Houston-based company that makes drilling rigs: 5/2010
Investment in Ocean Energy he disclosed in 2008: $15,000 to $50,000
Investment in Transocean, the company that owned the drilling rig involved in the ongoing BP Gulf of Mexico disaster, he reported on his 2008 disclosure: $1,000 to $15,000
Investment in Hercules Offshore, a contract drilling firm, Feldman disclosed in 2008: $1,000 to $15,000
Number of cases involving Hercules that Feldman presided over in 2009: 2
Number of oil and gas industry companies in which Feldman owned, bought or sold stock during 2008: about 20
Of the 12 federal judges of the Eastern District of Louisiana, number who have cited potential conflicts of interest because of oil and gas holdings: 7
Date on which the Obama administration appealed Feldman's ruling to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas: 6/24/2010
Of the 17 judges on the 5th Circuit, number who have recused themselves from hearing global warming litigation because of their oil, gas and chemical holdings: 8
Date on which the 5th Circuit dismissed a climate change nuisance suit related to Hurricane Katrina because of a lack of quorum due to recusals over potential conflicts: 5/28/2010
Number of lawsuits and legal challenges filed to date over the BP spill: more than 150
(Click on figure to go to source.)
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Sue Sturgis
Sue is the former editorial director of Facing South and the Institute for Southern Studies.