Retired

Retired Judge Steps Down from High-Profile Execution Case Amid Questions of Impartiality

by

On Nov. 25, retired state district judge Deborah Oakes Evans decided to recuse herself from a notable legal case involving death row inmate Robert Roberson III, whose execution she had previously authorized. The decision, filed with the court, comes amid ongoing legal proceedings attracting widespread attention, both nationally and internationally. Robert Roberson was convicted in 2003 of capital murder, accused of causing the death of his 2-year-old daughter, Nikki, by shaking her—a case commonly cited as involving “shaken baby syndrome.” At 58, Roberson has maintained his innocence for over two decades, arguing along with his … Read more

Retired Judge Criticizes New Assisted Dying Bill for Excluding Sufferers of Chronic Conditions Like Parkinson’s

by

LONDON — A proposed assisted dying bill in England and Wales, which would restrict aid to only those with less than six months to live, has sparked significant debate over its usefulness for those with chronic, degenerative conditions. Retired High Court judge Sir Nicholas Mostyn, who is afflicted with Parkinson’s disease, expressed concerns that the bill would abandon those who, like him, do not fit the narrow criteria. Mostyn highlighted that the legislation appears to replicate the model used in Oregon, USA, which also restricts assisted dying to terminally ill individuals expecting to live for … Read more

Jury Awards $3.8 Million in Asbestos Case, Including Rare Punitive Damages, to Retired Boilermaker and Wife

by

Pittsburgh, PA — A Pittsburgh jury has awarded a $3.8 million verdict to a retired boilermaker, Harry Chirdon, and his wife, against Chirdon’s former employer, boiler company Foster Wheeler, for its role in his diagnosis of mesothelioma. The substantial sum includes not only compensation for the Chirdons’ medical and personal losses but also punitive damages, a rarity in asbestos litigation, highlighting the severity of the company’s misconduct. The trial concluded on Sept. 26 at the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas under Judge Arnold Klein. It uncovered that Chirdon, now 76, had suffered significant exposure … Read more

Retired Bristol GP’s Medical License Suspended After Climate Protest Convictions

by

LONDON — A retired general practitioner, Dr. Diana Warner, has had her medical license suspended following her involvement in non-violent climate change protests, marking her as the second doctor to face such consequences. Warner, who serviced the Bristol area for over three decades, was sentenced to imprisonment after being found guilty of defying private anti-protest injunctions aimed at preventing disruptions on the M25 motorway in 2021 and 2022. During her plea hearing in an East London magistrate court in 2022, Warner escalated her protest by gluing her hand to the dock, an act that resulted … Read more