Opinion ID: 1745929
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Mr Leahy's Ex Parte Conference with the Trial Judge

Text: During hearings on April 29 and 30, 1992, Mr. Leahy attempted to assert various objections and complaints based upon the poor relationship that exists between him and his daughter Anna. The trial judge attempted several times to explain that these matters were not relevant in this lawsuit because visitation was not an issue; the judge even invited Mr. Leahy to amend his petition to make this an issue, but Mr. Leahy did not do so. In an effort to mitigate this problem, it was suggested that Mr. Leahy would meet with the trial judge in chambers and discuss the unsatisfactory relationship that exists between himself and his daughter and possible solutions. It is not clear whether the trial judge or Mr. Leahy's attorney suggested the meeting, but it is clear that Mr. Leahy, Mr. Leahy's attorney, Ms. Berkowitz (who is Ms. Clapp's attorney), and Ms. Clapp (who was directly advised by her attorney that this meeting was to occur) all knew about the proposed meeting and the subject of the discussions (which did not relate to the issues before the court). It is also clear that no one objected or raised any question about the proposed meeting with the judge. Moreover, Mr. Leahy, who is now asserting this as a basis of reversal on appeal, participated in the in-chambers conference and made no objection either at the time or at the trial two weeks later. Mr. Leahy asserts that the in camera, off-the-record meeting between himself and the trial judge on May 22, 1992, violated Supreme Court Rule 2, the Code of Judicial Conduct. Specifically, Mr. Leahy asserts that the trial judge violated Canon 3 A(4) and 3 C(1)(a) of Rule 2. Canon 3 A(4) provides in pertinent part: A judge should accord to every person who is legally interested in a proceeding and the person's lawyer full right to be heard according to law and, except as authorized by law, neither initiate nor consider ex parte or other communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding.... Canon 3 C(1) provides: A judge should recuse in a proceeding in which the judge's impartiality might reasonably be questioned, including but not limited to instances where the judge: (a) has a personal bias or prejudice concerning the proceeding; .... We find no merit in Mr. Leahy's contention. We do not believe that this sort of conference, which most nearly resembles a settlement conference with the judge conferring first with one party and then the other, violates either of the foregoing rules, and, in any event, it would be for Ms. Clapp not Mr. Leahy, an active party to the conference, to object. We do not recommend this procedure; it would certainly be preferable to have this type of meeting on the record with all of the attorneys present. However, while we can understand that this might be objectionable to a party or an attorney who was not present, we are hard pressed to understand how it could prejudice Mr. Leahy. We reject this claim as a basis for Mr. Leahy's motion for a new trial.