Court Opinion

ID: 9431364
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-02 23:32:08.02868+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:16:54.736321
License: Public Domain

Justice O’Connor,
dissenting.
For the reasons given by Chief Justice Rehnquist, ante, at 871-873, I agree that “constructive knowledge” cannot be the basis for a violation of 28 U. S. C. § 455(a). The question then remains whether respondent is entitled to a new trial because there are other “extraordinary circumstances,” apart from the § 455(a) violation found by the Fifth Circuit, that justify “relief from the operation of the judgment.” See Fed. Rule Civ. Proc. 60(b)(6); Ackermann v. United States, 340 U. S. 193, 199 (1950); Klapprott v. United States, 335 U. S. 601, 613 (1949). Although the Court collects an impressive array of arguments that might support the granting of such relief, I believe the issue should be addressed in the first instance by the courts below. I would therefore remand this case with appropriate instructions.