Judge Now Says He Owned Apple Stock During Decade-Old Nokia Case
Responses are due Oct. 27 to revelations by U.S. District Judge William Conley in Madison, Wisconsin, that he owned Apple stock when presiding over Nokia-Apple patent litigation more than a decade ago, said a letter posted Monday in docket 3:10-cv-00249…
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and signed by Joel Turner, the court’s deputy chief clerk. Conley contacted Turner to tell him the Apple stock ownership was “brought to his attention,” but that it “neither affected nor impacted his decisions in this case,” said the letter. His ownership of Apple shares would have required his immediate recusal under the code of conduct for federal judges, said Turner: "Judge Conley directed that I notify the parties of the conflict." Court records show the litigation before Conley ended in January 2011 when he granted Apple’s motion, over Nokia's opposition, to transfer the case to U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware, for convenience and other judicial reasons. Responses by the Oct. 27 deadline “will be considered” by Chief Judge James Peterson without Conley’s “participation,” said Turner. Attempts to reach Nokia and Apple lawyers Monday were unsuccessful. Conley's chambers didn't respond to questions.