Ernie the Attorney has more (Sept. 14) about that trial in New Orleans two weeks ago (see Aug. 29) in which attorney Johnnie Cochran won a startlingly high verdict of $51.4 million for the family of an 11-year-old girl injured when she fell out the window of a streetcar five years ago. We and others raised our eyebrows at the verdict’s aftermath, in which the jury posed for celebratory photos with not only attorney Cochran but also the judge who presided over the case, C. Hunter King. And now, reports EtA, “Judge C. Hunter King appeared before the State Supreme Court this past week to plead for a limited suspension of one year (as opposed to permanent removal from the bench). His prior transgression was that he made his staff work on his campaign, and then when a complaint was lodged against him he lied and said he hadn’t forced his staff to do campaign work. …. This transgression came to light (including the part about lying) back in May, but Judge King was still allowed to continue to sit on the bench to hear select cases, including the one that Johnny Cochran tried.” Update Oct. 25: Judge King removed from bench.

Filed under: ethics