Shlomo Hagler - Recuse Thyself

[Cranky Tenant]

Aside from the fact that we may like judges who are pro tenant, within the notion of justice, how ethical is it for a judge to say he's pro LL or pro tenant? I realize this is sort of a dumb question but where does the law fit into this?

[TenantNet]

It's a fine line. Judges -- and judicial candidates -- are supposed to display judicial decorum (something Hagler is not doing). They must refrain on commenting how they would rule on any issue that might come before them. Of course that limits what they can say, so they need to convince people they will be fair and impartial. What one can do is look at their past work and those with whom they associate to get a sense how they will operate in the future. Such scrutiny is appropriate. Given the prior complaints against Hagler, and the current ones, plus how he is misrepresenting his position and other things, and his overriding level of landlord support and money, in our opinion, this person should not be on any bench.