Judge Thomas Porteous Moves Closer to Impeachment

In a critical step toward impeachment, the United States Judicial Conference voted unanimously to forward charges against U.S. District Judge Thomas Porteous to the House of Representatives for impeachment. He is accused of perjury, accepting gifts from lawyers and violating other criminal and ethical standards. Unless he resigns, he would be the first federal judge impeached in 19 years.

The decision follows a similar decision from a panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans in decision, click here.

Porteoius is accused of committing perjury by signing false financial disclosures to conceal cash and things of value that he solicited from lawyers appearing before him. He is also accused of filing false financial disclosures to conceal income, gifts, loans and liabilities.

On case involving a Kenner hospital lawsuit has been cited after he refused to recuse himself despite the fact that the attorneys in the case gave him some of the gifts and were friends.
The next step will be a resolution for impeachment leading ultimately to a possible Senate trial.

Porteous is a Clinton nominee. He received both his BA and JD from Louisiana State University. He served as Special counsel, Office of the State Attorney General, Louisiana, 1971-1973;
Chief, Felony Complaint Division, District Attorney’s Office, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, 1973-1975; City attorney, City of Harahan, Louisiana, 1982-1984; and Judge, 24th Judicial District Court of Louisiana, 1984-1994

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