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Judge of the Day: Tena Campbell

contributing to obama.jpgJust a reminder from the Judicial Code of Conduct: "a judge should refrain from political activity." And clerks too. Duh, right?

Well, Utah's chief federal judge seems to have "forgotten" about canon 7 in her excitement about Obama. From the Salt Lake Tribune:

Judge Tena Campbell, a President Clinton appointee, donated $100 to the Democratic candidate on Aug. 28, 2007, according to campaign disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission.

The disclosure lists Campbell's profession as "lawyer" and her employer the "govtt." The address listed on the contribution is Campbell's court chambers.

Sneaky. But not sneaky enough.

It wasn't her only donation. Campbell contributed multiple times for a total of $300, but only her last donation was made public. Campaigns are not required to release the names of contributors until they donate more than $200.

Whoops.

Obama's campaign returned the 300 bucks. Nominated to the federal bench by Clinton in 1995, Campbell is Utah's first female district judge.

Being a Democrat in Utah must be a lonely endeavor. At least she has husband, fellow lawyer and "Missing Witness" author, Gordon Campbell, to keep her company.

Utah judge breaks rule with Obama donation [The Salt Lake Tribune]

Comments
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1 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 11:48 AM

FIRST

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2 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 11:51 AM

Could this be a hoax donation, made by someone else, in her name?

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3 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 11:52 AM

are all Obama supporters hardened criminals, or just most?

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4 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 11:56 AM

2, Yes, that's exactly it. Any unscrupulous behavior by supporters of the One, however minor, must be attributed to hoaxes, or, to be specific, to the vast right wing conspiracy.

I conclude by noting that you are a huge turd.

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5 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 11:56 AM

Ugh, Shame on her!!!! I'm a former federal law clerk and an Obama supporter and this makes me cringe.

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6 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:01 PM

That is a very creepy picture of Mystal. Creepy indeed sir.

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7 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:03 PM

3 - definitely most, that's obviously why he's ahead in the polls. so many hardened criminals in america! who knew!

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8 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:03 PM

Thank heavens I did not get a clerkship from her. Talk about dodging a bullet.

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9 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:04 PM

3 - if literacy and education are crimes, then yes.

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10 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:04 PM

5 - If that makes you cringe, Brooklyn Judges will make you Sh** yourself.

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11 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:04 PM

4 - That's not one of the two choices. It's either a Turd Sandwich or a Giant Douche. Pay attention man!

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12 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:05 PM

Stupid. Left or right, let 'em contribute forchristsake!

Oh, and Wildman Harrold sucks turds!

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13 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:06 PM

8, if you'd only been so lucky.

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14 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:12 PM

Closed door meetings all morning at SkaddenDC. -Scary.

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15 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:13 PM

Seems like the acorns are falling for many, many trees in different forests.

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16 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:13 PM

Seems like the acorns are falling from many, many trees in different forests.

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17 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:14 PM

PEANUTS are falling from trees, too! And also CHEESE!

Yum, yum, yum-a-roo!

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18 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:24 PM

.......8><8....crickets......

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19 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:27 PM

Remember that one time where the WSJ Law Blog posted something and ATL posted later?

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20 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:27 PM

Obama is Jesus. 'Nuff said.

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21 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:35 PM

I'm nervous.

-nervous T-10 1L

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22 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:38 PM

Here, I can complete the next 249 ATL posts:

Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Palin Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Palin Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Obama McCain Palin.

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23 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:42 PM

Hey Elie,

Can we have a post about bonuses? Even in this terrible market, it would be great if ATL help get associates a little more by egging on firms.

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24 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:53 PM

For the record, you are right. It IS lonely being a Democrat in Utah. Democracy at its most futile.

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25 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:54 PM

actually, it is quite likely that this or other situations could be hoaxes, because it has been reported that right wing organizations are encouraging their supporters to make such contributions in hopes of embarrassing obama.

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26 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:54 PM

14 - BS.

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27 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 12:55 PM

Canon 7 is stupid.

A judge in Arkansas has taken up freedom of speech issues involving judges. Among the topics covered are political activities of judges.

See: http://www.fac.org/news.aspx?id=19081

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28 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:01 PM

Article on this please:

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/court_fight_in_the_heart_of_dixie.html

Most expensive supreme court campaign in the country? Lies about a candidate's ranking from the ABA? Not news worthy on a law tabloid?

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29 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:02 PM

14 - Closed door meetings in the McD's you work in, perhaps. You really just aren't preparing those fries up to your true potential. Name partner Ronald McDonald expects more from his "associates."

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30 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:05 PM

Me thinks "At least she has husband" is Elie testing us to see if we're paying attention.

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31 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:09 PM

28 again...I mean the Alabama Bar, not that other ABA.

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32 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:15 PM

My co-clerks on the COA attended Obama rallies and had signs in their yards and carried swag around. Not all people, even intelligent and educated ones, care that much about ethics rules when it comes to politics.

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33 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:17 PM

Any lawyer worth is or her salt shoudl understand that "should" does not equal "shall." It is merely hortatory, and the individual is entitled to follow his or her own conscience as to whether to donate. You want "shall not?" Then change the language.

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34 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:18 PM

Any lawyer worth his or her salt should understand that "should" does not mean "shall." It is merely hortatory, and the individual is entitled to follow his or her own conscience as to whether to donate. You want "shall not?" Then change the language.

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35 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:20 PM

6 - thats not a picture of Elie, its a picture of the mask that Kash is wearing for me for Halloween, per my post in the lawyer costumes post. I once feel concerned about her being cold wearing just the mask, but I'm sure I can find a way to remedy that.

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36 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:20 PM

I'm nervous about SkaddenDC

-nervous T-10 1L

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37 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 1:43 PM

Federal judges at my high school used to violate Canon 7 by donating money to political candidates all the time. It was no big deal.

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38 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 2:09 PM

haha she works for the govTTT

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39 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 2:54 PM

Tena also gave false information to federal agencies to hide the fact she is the Chief Federal Judge in Utah not simply an attorney, her multiple donations exhibit a pattern of deception and a holier than thou attitude.She should resign under the same judgement that she forces on her underlings when they fail to accept responsibilty for their unethical acts and fraudulant over-ups.

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40 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 2:55 PM

Tena also gave false information to federal agencies to hide the fact she is the Chief Federal Judge in Utah not simply an attorney, her multiple donations exhibit a pattern of deception and a holier than thou attitude.She should resign under the same judgement that she forces on her underlings when they fail to accept responsibilty for their unethical acts and fraudulant over-ups.

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41 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 2:55 PM

Report: McCain Volunteer Who Claimed "Carved B" Attack Confesses To Making Up Story

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/10/report_mccain_volunteer_who_cl.php

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42 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 3:06 PM

That's preposterous, Number 37! High school students can't be federal judges. Geesh, shows what you know.

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43 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 4:31 PM

Again, yet one more Obama supporter who could care less about the law, democracy or anything else as long as their boy is elected.

Funny - I can't wait to see the numbers on black voting for Obama. Here's guessing that racism runs strongly enough in the black community that it will be OVERWHELMINGLY in Osama's, er Obama's favor.

I've personally spoken to more than one person of color who said they'd choose McCain over Hillary when that was still a question, so it's clearly NOT about policy.

The next time you see someone of color behaving stereotypically and try to remain colorblind, think hard about the way various segments of our society are dealing with skin color, and recognize that with near certainty, even if you remain completely race-neutral and colorblind, THEY are judging YOU (and blaming you for their every failure and imperfection, and striving for the day when they can hurt you - witness the spiteful posts in the no-minority-female-partners thread the other day).

It's sad really, but the speeches of the Reverend Jeremiah and his ilk reveal the real thinking in much of black America, Obama very obviously included.

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44 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 4:35 PM

26% of Utah likely voters are polling for Mr. Smooth!

Not sure that makes them as lonely, but maybe.

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45 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 4:36 PM

Black voters are polling 93% to 2% for Mr. Smooth, with 5% undecided.

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46 Posted by guest | Permalink Friday, October 24, 2008 6:06 PM

The apology released by Judge Tena a few minutes ago was not an apology, it was an excuse and an attempt to deny she did wrong and used poor judgement on several acts. She has failed to accept responsibility for her actions.

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