New rule: judges barred from hearing cases of large attorney campaign donors

Under a new adminstrative court rule, lawyers who have contributed $2,500 or more to a judge's campaign will be barred from appearing in front of that judge for two years.  (Link:  New York Times, New York Law Journal.)  Firms donating more than $3,500 will be barred, as well.  The rule was announced today by Chief Judge Lippman.  According to the Times article, a computer program will check public donor databases against the names of the attorneys when the judge is assigned.  This would seem to suggest that the rule will be applied prospectively.  Judge Lippman is expected to outline the specifics of the new rule during his State of the Judiciary speech tomorrow.