Court Opinion

ID: 9470262
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 03:01:03.923503+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:41:48.688713
License: Public Domain

POOLE, Circuit Judge,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent, believing that Grolier was entitled to a confrontation by way of deposition with respect to its not-unreasonable concern that Administrative Law Judge von Brand’s official position had been sufficiently close to the historical litigation of the case as to raise questions concerning his suitability for adjudication.
In Grolier I we rejected the contention that mere contemporaneity of tenure during prior litigation called for disqualification. The majority correctly adverts to this ruling. But I question whether having to proceed in the light of Judge von Brand’s prior relationship as attorney-advisor for eight years during former Commissioner MacIntyre’s tenure would not cause the average litigator to be very apprehensive when that attorney-advisor now sits on the issues with which his principal had dealt. Normally we would test any basis of conflict by the “engine” of cross-examination. A deposition with face to face questions and answers would permit such testing; an already-prepared affidavit provides no similar satisfaction.
Grolier’s conduct of the litigation has left some tension in feelings but I believe a deposition could be kept entirely within bounds while the issue was explored. The majority has denied this right to Grolier and hence I dissent.