Prof. Kritzer Quoted in Minnesota Lawyer on Judicial Recusal Denial

Professor Herbert Kritzer was quoted in a Minnesota Lawyer article concerning Judge Susan Miles denial of a request that she recuse herself from a divorce case after Julie LaFleur, who is challenging Judge Miles in the upcoming election, took over the representation of the ex-husband in the case from another lawyer. Kritzer observed that while normally one would expect a judge to recuse him or herself in a case being handled by an opponent in an upcoming election, this case presented an unusual issue because LaFleur took on the case more than two months after filing to oppose Judge Miles. The timing makes it appear that the ex-husband's decision to retain LaFleur at least in part motivated as a means of getting Judge Miles removed from the case during post-decree proceedings challenging Judge Miles decision to award substantial attorney's fees to the ex-wife's attorney.