Today in Supreme Court History: September 26, 1986

9/26/1986: Chief Justice Warren Burger resigns.

Chief Justice Warren Burger

Comments

[Dan Schiavetta]

The Court announced some interesting (or maybe illustrative) disbarments this day in 1994.

Matter of Disbarment of Mosely, 512 U.S. 1284 (decided September 26, 1994): Municipal judge convicted of extorting kickbacks from contractors, 810 F.2d 93 (though unlike in my case, none of those victims was a broken, disabled man threatened with prison) He became a minister, and his web page gives a full accounting of his past. https://lawsoflifecourttv.com/fred-m-mosely-testimony/ Though he seems to stress being rejected by his peers (awww . . . ) as well as his misdeeds.

Matter of Disbarment of Cole, 512 U.S. 1285 (decided September 26, 1994): Convicted of large-scale bank fraud and money laundering, “issuance of over 82 fraudulent loans and 49 fraudulent cashier’s checks”. 989 F.2d 495.

Matter of Disbarment of Corces, 512 U.S. 1284 (decided September 26, 1994): Attorney with bright future lived the high life and borrowed client funds to pay personal bills. (As one of my law professors said, “That’s always how it starts.”) At first he paid it back. And then . . . https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1992/05/17/the-long-slide-of-charles-corces/

Matter of Disbarment of Karsch, 512 U.S. 1284 (decided September 26, 1994) and Matter of Disbarment of Meyer, 512 U.S. 1284 (decided September 26, 1994): These attorneys were disbarred for their non-attorney acts, in this case as CEO and Treasurer of a supermarket chain which defrauded manufactures via fraudulent coupons (give them credit for creativity), 197 A.D.2d 262, 200 A.D.2d 17

[wolfefan]

I always appreciate these alternative "of the day" notes. Thanks! Side note - I've always thought Burger was exactly what a modern CJ should look like.

[Dan Schiavetta]

You're welcome!

Burger, according to an article about him in Playboy (I was reading it with two hands by that time), used pomade to make his hair look just so.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

" I’ve always thought Burger was exactly what a modern CJ should look like. "

How does an old white guy in a black robe look any more modern than every other chief justice?

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

You know who else looked the part of a judge from central casting?

Judge Henry T. Fleming

(Out of order? "I'll show you out of order!")

[wolfefan]

What a great cast that was. I always liked Jack Warden.

[John F. Carr]

Interesting that a municipal judge was a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court.

[Dan Schiavetta]

From his bio it seems he was a high flier as an attorney, working for the DOJ Antitrust Division, so he probably got admitted at that time. Municipal judge was I suppose his first step on the judicial ladder.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

Unless something has changed relatively recently, essentially any lawyer willing to invest a few hundred dollars (maybe it is more now) in a credential can join the Supreme Court bar. A lawyer who aspires to a municipal judgeship would likely be inclined to seek Supreme Court bar admission.

[apedad]

Re: Mosley

". . . and his web page gives a full accounting of his past."

Well, I wouldn't say a "full" accounting.

He never admits his criminal actions and guilt.

He does seem to have a hard-on for God and Christ though.

[Dan Schiavetta]

He does seem to treat his conviction and prison time as something unfortunate that simply happened to him, like being stuck on the checkout line behind a kid buying 5 cases of beer who can’t find his ID.

[The Margrave of Azilia]

Next to Hughes, Burger looks the most Chief Justice-ish of them all.

But wasn't nearly as good as Hughes.