On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, The Volokh Conspiracy reported that a federal judge in Alabama sanctioned three attorneys for their involvement in a practice known as “judge-shopping.” This decision stems from actions taken by attorneys representing plaintiffs in a challenge to Alabama’s legislation banning certain medical treatments for transgender minors.
The case began in April 2022, following the Alabama Governor’s signing of a new law that imposed a felony healthcare ban. Attorneys from prominent law firms and advocacy groups swiftly filed two lawsuits—Ladinsky v. Ivey on April 8, 2022, and Walker v. Marshall on April 11, 2022. The urgency of these filings was driven by the impending effective date of the law on May 8, 2022. However, within a week, both cases were voluntarily dismissed as the attorneys sought to refile in a different federal district.
The judge presiding over the case, Liles C. Burke, detailed in a 230-page opinion that the lead attorneys had intentionally dismissed their cases to avoid their assigned judge. This tactic, the court found, was not merely a strategic litigation decision but a deliberate effort to manipulate the judicial system. The attorneys’ actions raised significant concerns about the integrity of the court’s random case-assignment procedures.
In response to these concerns, a three-judge panel was convened in May 2022 to investigate the matter. After a thorough six-month inquiry and nearly a year of deliberation, the panel concluded that eleven lead attorneys involved in the cases had engaged in misconduct by attempting to subvert the legal process through judge-shopping.
Following the panel’s findings, Judge Burke publicly reprimanded attorneys Melody Eagan and Jeffrey Doss for their actions. Both attorneys were disqualified from further participation in the ongoing case and were referred to the Alabama State Bar for potential disciplinary action. Although the court opted not to suspend them from practicing in the Middle District of Alabama, it emphasized the seriousness of their misconduct.
Additionally, attorney Carl Charles faced a public reprimand for making intentional misrepresentations about key facts during the investigation. The court imposed a monetary sanction of $5,000 on Charles and referred his conduct to both the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Alabama and the relevant licensing organizations.
The judge’s ruling highlights the court’s commitment to maintaining the rule of law and ensuring that the judicial process remains fair and impartial. Judge Burke’s decision underscores the potential consequences for attorneys who engage in unethical practices aimed at manipulating legal outcomes.
Source: The Volokh Conspiracy
