michael ross
Judge Chatigny: A (mini) biography
Feb 13th
The Day of New London has a rather longish, but descriptive piece on Judge Chatigny with quotes from local law professors and practitioners.
Michael Ross – Groark to zealously argue incompetence
Feb 11th
The Courant has this article on Thomas Groark, who was appointed by Judge Clifford yesterday to investigate Ross’ incompetency and present any evidence of that at a future competency hearing. Groark is a senior litigation partner at Day, Berry & Howard in Hartford. I’m not so sure about this, knowing that he has little to no criminal experience. But at least it is a start.
May 11 – new execution date
Feb 10th
Judge Clifford in New London has set a new date for the execution of Michael Ross: May 11, 2005. He also appointed Hartford attorney Thomas Groark as special counsel to investigate the competency of Michael Ross.
Paulding will continue to assist Ross in his quest for his execution, while Groark will "have to take the counter position and argue that Ross is not competent." The Courant quotes
Paulding,
"This is the ideal resolution of the dilemma I was in and the
dilemma the court system was in. This allows me to do what I was
hired to do, which is represent Michael Ross"
I’m not sure if Groark volunteered to do this or was proposed by Paulding and/or the Public Defenders or how effective he will be if he is "forced" to take a position. Time will tell, as will more updates as
they become available.
Chatigny recuses himself
Feb 3rd
Channel 8 is reporting that Judge Chatigny has decided to remove himself from any further proceedings. What motivated Judge Chatigny to remove himself from the matter is unclear, but I doubt it has anything to do with public outcry.
Most likely, Judge Chatigny removed himself to avoid any impression of impropriety.
Update: More details are available. What Judge Chatigny did is dismiss the motion before him without prejudice. It does leave open the possibility that it may come before him again if it goes through state courts and is appealed to federal district court. However, it is extremely unlikely that it will be scheduled to be heard by him. Well, he did what he had to do. Thank you Judge Chatigny.
Ross agrees to new competency hearing
Feb 3rd
The first reports on the Ross hearing in New London today indicate that Michael Ross has agreed to a new competency hearing.
Judge Clifford has given Paulding one week to resolve any potential conflicts he might have and encouraged Paulding to hire another pyschiatrist to examine Ross.
You know what they say. Two (Dr. Grassian and Dr. Norko) are better than one.
Ross due in court today
Feb 3rd
Michael Ross is due in New London Superior Court this afternoon,
possibly for a hearing to investigate the potential conflict of interest cited by T.R. Paulding. The hearing is before Judge Clifford, who earlier found him competent. /Key quote: Paulding says that new evidence suggests that Michael Ross is not competent to make his own decision to die. Will keep updating as more news becomes available on this story.
Death row inmates on hunger strike
Feb 3rd
The Courant reports that five out of the eight inmates on death row are
going on a hunger strike to protest the insufferable conditions at Northern Correctional Institution. The DOC will not say which five they are. The five inmates issued a statement that said
"What we request is not unreasonable: communal recreation. While
housed in Northern with the ‘worst of the worst’ prison offenders
who are being punished for their behavior, death row inmates are
extremely well-behaved and cause no problems or dangers to the
correctional officers or each other."
The statement then rides the coat-tails of the Ross saga and mentions SHU syndrome. The inmates said problems associated with solitary isolation are constantly expressed to DOC mental health staff.
"And their only response to these issues is to medicate inmates or
put them on a temporary suicide watch."
More opinions on Chatigny
Feb 2nd
Here is one more news article on Judge Chatigny and the opinion of legal experts on his behavior. The
journalist interviews Paul Chill, professor of ethics and dean of academics at UCONN Law and Norm Pattis, who is slowly emerging as Chatigny’s most vocal critic.
Excerpt:
"All Judge Chatigny is trying to do is allow enough time to hold a hearing on whether this ‘death-row syndrome’ affected the voluntariness of Ross’ waiver" of further legal challenges, Chill
said. But Chill also called the judge’s threat to Paulding’s law license "extraordinary," adding that it was essentially a threat "to take away Paulding’s livelihood."
Among the most outspoken critics of Chatigny’s remarks is Bethany lawyer Norman Pattis, who suggested that Congress should undertake an impeachment inquiry as a mechanism to force the judge to answer questions on the subject. Asked what provision of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges was violated by Chatigny’s remarks, Pattis had no immediate response.
Canon 1 of the code says, "A judge should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing high standards of conduct." Pattis conceded that Chatigny was "apparently" trying to do that in the telephone conference. But the lawyer added, "He apparently abandoned his role as a neutral and detached magistrate."
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