The Nation - News from May 31, 1989

The chief judge of the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Milwaukee said he would begin a review of two cases in which District Judge Thomas J. Curran ruled in favor of the General Electric Co. while owning GE stock. The U.S. Code of Judicial Ethics forbids a judge from presiding in a case in which he or she has a financial holding. The Associated Press discovered the incidents by reviewing Curran’s financial disclosure statements and cross-referencing his stock holdings with his case files. In a telephone interview from Chicago, Appeals Judge William J. Bauer said he would probe both cases closely and then announce whether any action should be taken. On Friday, Curran, 64, said he would notify counsel of the conflicting interest and avoid future involvement in cases involving GE.