Recapture Canyon case want judge disqualified ( Utah : BLM )

Ch 13 ^ | July 20, 2015 | Ben Winslow

[george76]

Lawyers for a San Juan County commissioner convicted of his role in a protest ride in Recapture Canyon are asking a judge to disqualify himself, citing his ties to an environmental group.

...

Judge Shelby is “close friends” with the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance’s legal director, Stephen Bloch, who has advocated for a stiff sentence for Lyman.

Judge Shelby disclosed the relationship ... Steve Bloch, on behalf of SUWA, Steve Bloch and his wife Kara are friends of mine and have been for a long, long time. I practiced with Kara at Snow Christensen starting in 1999. My wife and I have socialized with the two of them since that time, we continue to socialize. My son is close friends with Steve’s son, they play on the same soccer team, in the same school class. We have dinner, are couples together and with other friends not infrequently.”

[george76]

US Attorney John Huber replies to Recapture judge claim.

Attorneys for San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman, who was convicted in the case, filed a motion on July 20 stating that Federal Judge Robert Shelby should be disqualified from the sentencing phase of the case because of his friendship with the lead attorney for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA).

US Attorney John Huber admits that there is correspondence regarding the protest between BLM officials and Liz Thomas, an attorney for SUWA. However, he adds that there is no connection between the correspondence and the charges.

http://www.sjrnews.com/view/full_story/26789411/article-US-Attorney-replies-to-Recapture-judge-claim