► U.S. Judge Richard Berman of New York City; Dumbo Print

U.S. Judge Richard Berman of New York City; Dumbo

 

The state of New York presented Richard M. Berman with a law license in 1967 after she graduated from New York University (NYU) Law School.

 

Former President Bill Clinton was duped into appointing Dick to a seat on the United States District Court for the South District of New York in 1998. Dick didn’t get the appointment because he was the most qualified lawyer in the greater New York City area. He got it because he had proven to be a reliable lackey for the local political hacks.

 

It should be noted that Dick assumed Senior Status in 2011, a mere thirteen (13) years after he ascended to the bench. Under the laughable rules for federal judges, Dick was allowed to take on Senior Status after ten (10) years on the bench. Under this asinine rule, Dick is only required to work ten (10) hours-a-week while earning a full annual salary of $199,000.

 

In one matter, Dick was assigned to preside over the case of U.S. vs. Zarrab, et al. The case involved Reza Zarrab, a Turkish financier charged with exploiting holes in U.S. sanctions against Iran and running a five-year scheme to cloak transactions on behalf of Bank Mellat and others.

 

Zarrab is being represented by former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Michael Mukasey. The issue presented to Dick the Dumbo (DD) was whether or not Giuliani and Mukasey should be removed from represent Zarrab due to conflicts of interest. Those interests were and are:

 

GIULIANI:

  • Rudy’s firm, Greenberg Traurig LLP is a registered lobbying agent of Turkey

MUKASEY:

  • Mike’s firm, Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, represented a number of banks that federal prosecutors allege were victims of a Zarrab-led scheme to cloak millions of dollars in transactions to dodge U.S. sanctions

Despite overwhelming evidence of an ongoing conflict involving Rudy and Mike, Dick the Dumbo was unmoved in allowing them to retain their positions as Zarrab’s defense attorneys.

 

Dick is another fine example of the kind of jurisprudence we receive when the sole requirement to receive a judicial appointment to the federal bench is evidence that one has been a compliant lackey in the past.

 

As we speak (ca. July 2017), Dick the Dumbo continues to sit as a U.S. District Court judge in New York City.