How did Fani Willis (Georgia DA) having an affair constitute a conflict in Trump's Georgia case, if it did at all?

[Anonymous]

[RavVid]

Got nothing to do with me but hiring someone to have sex with is always frowned upon after MeToo.

The court saw conflict of interest as I understand it and you'd have to see potential of that. It shouldn't be possible for an outside person to perceive of potential conflict of interest. If you are fucking them it is possible.

A prosecutor should be operating at a high level of ethics of not only not having a conflict of interest but no potential perceived conflict of interest.

[Asker]

She did not hire him to have sex with her. He was already doing that. A "potential perceived conflict of interest" is not the same thing as an actual conflict of interest.

[RavVid]

A perceived conflict of interest is not the same as actual is true but it is just as important.

If in a very ordinary job I am required to notify the ethics department of any perceivable conflict of interest anywhere in my life and not just work, then a powerful position of a prosecutor should reach the same bar.

Doesn't matter which was the egg and which was the chicken but hiring a lover or making a hire a lover is a substantial red flag on ethics.

It is not that hard to meet the standard. In one case a decision could go in two ways and I could perceive a benefit either way to me. So after declaring that I abstained in the vote.

My ethics are important to me. If I look after them nobody else has to worry about them.

[Asker]

I am trying to figure out a scenario in which their sexual activity could have possibly harmed Trump and I can't. Apparently you can't either I guess.

[goaded]

"A perceived conflict of interest is not the same as actual is true but it is just as important."
Judge Cannon would like a word. Also all the "justices" Trump nominated (and the ones taking bribes from billionaires to stay on the court).

[RavVid]

@goaded I take it that you see a conflict of interest with those Justices :)

It is quite a question as to how judges are selected. It doesn't matter that much with murders and other criminal activity but it does matter when it is political/constitutional. An admiral aspect of the way the US approaches it is that it is open and honest.

In our system we would never know whether a specific judge has Left or Right or Center politics. In other words it is hidden. Obviously Judges are going to have politics.

I am doubtful there is a good solution but would be up for discussion on what a 'perfect world' would look like if you are interested.

[RavVid]

I don't have a horse :)

At the very least it opens up nepotism to hire a lover. Immediately there is a question of whether a person is acting fairly or unethically in the interests of a lover. Most people want to keep their lover happy.

I am not following this any more than it occasionally thrusts itself in my face. As I remember the lower court said one of the couple had to go. The appeals court said both had to go and it remains to be seen if the supreme court will hear it.

[goaded]

I take it you don't think there's even a "perceived conflict of interest" in a judge who owes their current and potential future position to the defendant?

Judge Cannon got overturned twice for exceeding her authority on Trump's behalf. The third time is under appeal. Her (vastly more experienced) colleagues told her she should recuse herself, but she didn't. SCOTUS delayed Trump's trials by months, until it was too late for a jury to hear the evidence against him.

It's never been important what president nominated a judge until an ex-president was indicted for a crime. Multiple Republican judges, even ones nominated by Trump, followed the law faultlessly in his baseless election lawsuits.

[RavVid]

@goaded In my view it is problematic to appoint judges and problematic to elect judges. In our system technically judges are appointments of the crown and should share the political neutrality of the crown but it is sheer bunkum to pretend they are not political appointees. It is also bunkum to pretend they do not have political views.

With that perspective I would see perceived conflict of interest with a political question in both cases. If judicial colleagues considered a specific judge should recuse but he/she does not then that would be disturbing to me.

[OddBeMe]

Don't see how her affair made Trump demand they find more votes in georgia.

[Asker]

Exactly.

[DrPepper12]

It didn't but this is lawfare. Her bad judgement is just CATASTROPHICALLY STUPID THO!