Charlie Geyh (Indiana) and I have an article up at The New Republic, explaining why Donald Trump's lawyers haven't filed a motion to recuse Judge Curiel. Here are the opening paragraphs:
Donald Trump has repeatedly argued that Judge Gonzalo Curiel has been unfair to him in the Trump University lawsuit and should recuse himself from the case. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee claims that Curiel’s Mexican heritage and his membership in the San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association creates an “inherent conflict of interest” because, as Trump put it in an interview with CNN, “I am building a wall.” But even Trump’s own lawyers appear to know better.
Trump has a simple remedy for this alleged conflict of interest, but he has not invoked it. He could direct his attorneys to file a disqualification motion pursuant to the United States Judiciary Code, on the ground that Curiel’s “impartiality might reasonably be questioned.” Given how strongly Trump feels about the situation—he has even called for an investigation of Curiel—why haven’t his lawyers already taken the necessary steps to disqualify the judge?
You can read the whole article here.
Trump is only doing this to draw attention away from the case itself and the students who have spoken out against Trump U. This is apparently one of his tactics. Throw bombs to distract the press and audience. He probably does not really believe that the judge is biased because of his heritage, but it is a good line.
He is also smart enough to know that many of his followers are dumb enough to believe it!
Posted by: Leo | June 06, 2016 at 05:56 PM
Leo,
Your comments drip with contempt for Trump voters.
Trumps followers aren't dumb in the least bit. They are angry like I am when I see my neighbors pulling ahead with half my education and sending their kids to Disney for 10 days. My income as an attorney has not budged in the last several years. The median house hold yearly income in 1976 in Lake Forest, Illinois was roughly 36K. In 1976, I would be on Easy Street with my Schedule C today in 1976. Something is wrong when we have so many connected people doing fabulously well and hoarding work and money, while the rest of us beg for jobs. So, if I am angry as an educated professional, I can really understand the Trump voter. In many respects it is a salve, no matter how wrong. Never criticize the supporter or tell them they are bad. Show them a better way.
Posted by: Captain Hruska Carswell, Continuance King | June 06, 2016 at 09:57 PM
Not for Trump voters, Captain, for Trump.
In terms of your situation, take personal responsibility and do something about it.
It's terrible to be jealous of others. Your neighbor may have less education than you, but obviously, whatever he/she does for a living is valued more by society than your lawyering skills. That's life. Get over it. This is not 1976, either.
You apparently spend a lot of time bemoaning your situation and posting here and elsewhere about it rather than doing anything to change it.
"He who lacks the courage to take risks will accomplish nothing in life." Muhammad Ali.
Posted by: Leo | June 07, 2016 at 09:54 AM
Dear Mr or Ms leo (PC u know),
Why is there so much anti trump hatred?
What about the Clinton foundation and her running around collecting donations?
What about the email scandal you know, where she lied per a federal report.
We, the awakened majority, are steaming mad about the corrupt system. Our nation is staring down the abys, we need Trump.
Posted by: Trump4Prez | June 07, 2016 at 10:11 AM
Hey Captain, hang in there. I understand what you ate saying.
Posted by: Trump4Prez | June 07, 2016 at 10:13 AM
Oh yeah, Trump University is comparable to the Clinton Foundation, sharing the latter's goals and values: "We convene businesses, governments, NGOs, and individuals to improve global health and wellness, increase opportunity for girls and women, reduce childhood obesity, create economic opportunity and growth, and help communities address the effects of climate change." Such evil machinations.
OK, cf. this to what Trump University was up to (I'm voting for Sanders and not Clinton): https://www.clintonfoundation.org/about/frequently-asked-questions
Posted by: Patrick S. O'Donnell | June 07, 2016 at 10:51 AM
I believe that Trump supporters and I are angry at richly salaried public school teachers, postal workers, government employees and unskilled or semi-skilled Union goonies. We have public officials and servants goosing their pensions to six figures. These folks compare themselves to CEO's and Equity Fund mangers and will tell the world that they are making a tremendous sacrifice in the name of public service. When in reality, they should be brought down to earth and be compared to an average retail employee, worker bee, self-employed shop owner or me, an under employed lawyer. Millions more of those folks....We have teachers in my community who earn 80K plus benefits for 9 months of work. Or look at the Chicago Public Schools---terrible outcomes. Yet those teachers earn handsome coin.
Posted by: Captain Hruska Carswell, Continuance King | June 07, 2016 at 11:41 PM
Patrick, I'm a partial fan of the Clinton Foundation. But do you normally accept corporate mission statements as full and accurate descriptions of the enterprise involved? And if the Clinton Foundation is used to facilitate other machinations, wouldn't it probably avoid saying that in the "About Us" section of a web site?
Posted by: Paul Horwitz | June 08, 2016 at 11:55 PM