Controversial Richmond judge no longer presiding over Lee statue case

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Controversial Richmond judge no longer presiding over Lee statue case

By JUSTIN MATTINGLY Richmond Times-Dispatch 14 hrs ago

The Richmond Circuit Court judge who has blocked Gov. Ralph Northam’s plan to take down the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument Avenue is no longer the judge in the case.

Judge Bradley B. Cavedo on Thursday recused himself from the legal challenge filed by William Gregory, a descendant of the people who signed over the land the statue stands on to the state, according to online court records. A reassignment order shows that Judge William R. Marchant will now preside over the case.

The recusal came the same day that six Monument Avenue residents who filed a separate lawsuit dropped their case in Richmond Circuit Court. Cavedo, who lives in the Monument Avenue Historic District, recused himself in that case as well.

Cavedo said in the order that he was recusing himself because of his home’s location in the historic district, a fact he said he was unaware of until the case.

In an email, Cavedo deferred to his recusal order. He included his reasoning in the order, which is something “we don’t usually do,” Cavedo said. “But these are unusual times.”

Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, called Cavedo’s recusal appropriate, adding that judicial ethics codes say a judge should recuse if there’s an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of one.

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Twitter: @jmattingly306

Staff writer Michael Martz contributed to this report.

[Princess Turandot]

1. I didn't see this mentioned in the article. Several days ago, Courthouse News unearthed....

.. an 'opinion piece' that this judge had written for his college newspaper, way back in the day. I imagine that's why he recused himself.

In it, he announced his intention to leave the US after getting his degree. This was part of it:

Virginia Judge at Heart of Monument Takedown Fight Linked to College Op-Ed Blasting Desegregation

When I leave, just think of what I will be leaving behind. I will be leaving the solicitous paternalism of the federal courts, which among other things nearly wrecked my high school education by instituting a massive busing plan that caused more upheaval in my school and my life than most people could imagine.

I would be leaving the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies whose concern for what they see as good or bad for me has achieved a level of interference. And what about the Department of Health, Education and Welfare? Their pronouncements and edicts reach Into the heart of our freedom over the way we arrange our lives. Then there is the Congress, but why waste my breath?

Worse then all that, looming like a vulture over a dying animal, is President Carter's instant voter registration plan. Thls scheme will allow the parasites of this nation to become the dominating force in politics. The majority of those people, who pay next to nothing in taxes and soak billions from the government in various forms of relief, do not bother to register in advance of an election and therefore usually do not vote. However, soon that may all change. A close election like last November would have been a landslide for Mr. Carter if instant registration had been law. I have long believed that only those who are prepared to accept the responsibilities of a Democratic-Republic should be allowed to participate in it.

It speaks for itself.

[nykym]

2. Matbe he should

recuse himself from the human race.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. If you could see the things I said forty years ago, I'd have to do that too. NT

Last edited Fri Jul 17, 2020, 09:25 AM - Edit history (1)

[nykym]

4. We all have done things

we are not proud off during our lifetimes.
The difference is we have the ability to change and grow.