US SUPREME COURT DENIES CERT IN AVERY V. STATE FARM . . . The US Supreme Court has denied certiorari in Avery v. State Farm, in which the Illinois Supreme Court reversed a $1.2 billion class-action verdict against State Farm rendered in Williamson County, Illinois. As I wrote in a post last month, the issue for review was framed like this:

May a judge who receives more than $1 million in direct and indirect campaign contributions from a party and its supporters, while that party's case is pending, cast the deciding vote in that party's favor, consistent with the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution?

The "judge" in question was newly-elected Illinois Supreme Court Justice Lloyd Karmeier. For more background, see this post at Automuse: "Avery's Petition for Certiorari Shanks Due Process" (and more at Point of Law, RiskProf and Overlawyered). The order of the US Supreme Court denying cert is here (pdf).

UPDATE 3/7/06 Law.com has this article today about the denial of cert, courtesy of the Associated Press: "Supreme Court Refuses to Consider Judge Ethics in $1 Billion Case," by Gina Holland.

Comments

[Matt]

For shame, Evan, for shame.

We only cast aspersions on the ethics of a judge based on campaign contributions when they decide for PLAINTIFFS. Has Ted taught you nothing? C'mon, you know this.