On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, HousingWire reported that Chicago-based U.S. District Court Judge Andrea R. Wood, who has been overseeing the Batton homebuyer commission lawsuits and the Moehrl commission suit, has stepped down from the cases due to a potential conflict of interest. The announcement came through a legal filing that revealed a familial connection to a partner at a law firm representing a defendant in the lawsuits.
In her filing, Judge Wood stated that she recently became aware that the spouse of a relative, related to her within the third degree, holds a partnership at the law firm involved in the case. Although she asserted that this relationship had not influenced her decisions regarding the lawsuits, she acknowledged that it necessitated her recusal under the Code of Conduct for United States Judges.
The Code of Conduct stipulates that judges must disqualify themselves in situations where their impartiality could reasonably be questioned, particularly when a relative or their spouse has a vested interest in the outcome of the case. Judge Wood emphasized that the committee on codes of conduct had informed her that an equity partner in a law firm typically has a significant interest in cases where the firm represents a party before the court.
The implications of Judge Wood’s recusal on the ongoing Batton lawsuits remain uncertain, especially since these cases were expected to go to trial in late 2026 or early 2027. Additionally, a hearing for the Batton I case that was scheduled for Thursday has been canceled, leaving both the court and the involved parties to navigate the next steps without her oversight.
Source: HousingWire
