Federal judge caught playing solitaire during a trial
by Ross Miller 
{ Jun 8th 2006 at 3:25PM }
We'll abstain from the card-related puns. On last Saturday, the New York Daily News reported that Manhattan Federal Court Judge Shira Scheindlin, was busy playing computer solitaire while overseeing the case against John "Junior" Gotti.The allegation comes from radio host Curtis Silwa, who noticed her gaming habits while testifying on the witness stand. Silwa was almost killed at a 1992 shooting that Gotti is accused of planning. Silwa said he has seen Scheindlin gaming during the last two trials, but did not speak up "until Scheindlin dumped cold water on the government's third try" to convict the mobster.
Silwa is asking that Scheindlin should step down from the case. Mayor Bloomberg in February fired a low-paid office worker after spying a game of Solitaire left on the person's desktop. It'll be interesting to see how a high-paid judge with political clout is reprimanded (if at all) for her in-trial shenanigans.
[Thanks, Harold]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JodyAnthony @ Jun 8th 2006 3:32PM
hahaha
Zaius @ Jun 8th 2006 3:40PM
I think it's "Sliwa".
NightOwl @ Jun 8th 2006 3:41PM
Screw the guy complaining since he didn't bring it up until she ruled in a way he didn't like. If he really gave a shit he'd have reported it regardless of her ruling. Given that, even though I think her actions are repugnant, I find almost as bad if not worse.
james f. @ Jun 8th 2006 3:46PM
Could it be that Jack Thompson is right, but just targeting the wrong type of games? Maybe Solitare is the real destroyer of our culture!
MosquitoControl @ Jun 8th 2006 3:53PM
Meh.
I know judges who sit on AIM telling former employees things like "you have no clue how much shit the guy on the stand is spewing right now. How dumb does he think we are."
State Supreme Court Judges.
Rare Hare @ Jun 8th 2006 4:01PM
that's sickening.. that's definately the kind of job you'd like to think someone is PAYING ATTENTION TO, instead of playing a game.
she should be fired.
GlitchCog @ Jun 8th 2006 4:06PM
How can anyone get away with Solitaire like that? The clicking patterns are instantly recognizable to anyone who's played it before.
epobirs @ Jun 8th 2006 4:14PM
So the judge had repeatedly already heard Sliwa's testimony and could review the transcripts if there was any complaint of discrepancy with previous testimony from the same witness. So her presence was little more than a formality and a stultifyingly dull one at that.
Better she play Solitaire than fall asleep.
Stu @ Jun 8th 2006 4:15PM
I would've been more tickled if it was something like WoW. I was unaware that Judges have laptops in court now. I've never been to court, I just assumed they were, you know, paying attention.
Nice use of shenanigans by the way.
Paul P. @ Jun 8th 2006 4:19PM
I think that's an elected position, right? Only voters can fire her.
Korexz @ Jun 8th 2006 4:27PM
EVIL Shenanigans!
We could cut off the judges mousing hand!
MegaMatt @ Jun 8th 2006 5:38PM
PURE EVIL
cringer8 @ Jun 8th 2006 5:49PM
When you're paid off by the mob, do you really need to pay attention to the trial? I know I wouldn't. Leave her alone, she already knows the outcome; why should she have to be bored at her job? Everyone else gets to have all kinds of crazy fun at work.
Scott @ Jun 8th 2006 8:30PM
Paul P.,
Federal judges are appointed by the President for life. They can only be removed for "Treason, Bribery or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
Ben @ Jun 8th 2006 9:03PM
I could be wrong, but honestly why don't they just have the IT guys remove the games from the windows Image that they use for government computers?! It seems like if people can get fired for using it then be a step ahead of them and just remove them!
gauselviNo @ Jun 9th 2006 7:08AM
maybe a Judge's status entitles use of solitaire for divination; you know, like card-readers?
Thundercross @ Jun 9th 2006 12:58PM
It's sad that they can get away with subverting state constitutions, overturning laws that the people themselves voted on because they don't like it. But a judge gets caught playing solitaire during a trial and NOW it's trouble!?