Judge Reviewed in Affirmative Action Case

Chief Judge Boyce F. Martin Jr. of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati allegedly manipulated the court's ruling in a case that upheld affirmative action in admissions policies at the University of Michigan, which is now under submission at the Supreme Court. First, Judge Martin allegedly appointed himself to the three-judge panel that originally heard the case, even though assignments are supposed to be random. Then, when the case was to be heard en banc, he delayed a request to have the full appeals court hear the case for five months, ensuring the exclusion of two conservative judges who were planning to retire, according to the review. The review did not recommend any punishment, the AP reports. UPDATE: Here's another view from a former clerk of Judge Martin's.