Conflicts of interest in Bush v. Gore: Did some justices vote illegally?
“[w]here [the judge] has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party”;48 where “[h]e knows that he … has a financial interest in the subject matter in controversy”;49 where “[h]e knows that he … has . . . any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding;”50 where “[h]e knows that… his spouse … has … any other interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding;”51 and where “a person within the third degree of relationship to [the judge]”-which includes children-“[i]s known by the judge to have an interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the proceeding.”52 A “proceeding” includes an appeal.53 A “financial interest” includes “ownership of a legal or equitable interest, however small, or a relationship as director, adviser, or other active participant in the affairs of a party.”54 A federal judge “should inform himself about his personal and fiduciary financial interests, and make a re
