NSA Wiretapping Judge Accused of Questionable Courtroom Ethics

Yesterday, Judicial Watch uncovered information that the U.S. District Judge who presided over the government wiretapping case may have had a conflict of interest. (Click here to read about JW’s investigation.)
This is not the first time, however, that Judge Diggs Taylor has been accused of questionable ethics in cases before her court. For example –

In an affirmative action case involving the University of Michigan School of Law, Judge Diggs Taylor reportedly attempted to use her position as then-Chief Judge of the federal District Court to reassign the case from Judge Bernard Freeman, who had been assigned the case by a blind draw, to a more “sympathetic” judge. Interestingly enough – Judge Diggs Taylor’s husband was, and is, on the Board of Regents for the University of Michigan. Judge Freeman questioned Diggs Taylor’s “highly irregular” behavior and the attempt to reassign the case was dropped.

Currently, Judge Diggs Taylor is presiding over a civil trial in which former Arab Community Center for Social and Economic Services (ACCESS) employee, Bushra Alawie, is suing ACCESS for a variety of claims, including discrimination. Judge Diggs Taylor is a Trustee and the Secretary for the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSEM), a foundation that has donated $180,000 to ACCESS. Despite her connection to ACCESS however, Judge Diggs Taylor has not recused herself and the trial is set for February 2007.
More later as the investigation develops –