Chief Judge Godbey to Sen. Schumer: Addressing Forum Shopping in Single-Judge Division is Complex and ‘Presents Logistical Challenges’

Chief U.S. District Judge David Godbey of the Northern District of Texas told U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer that he is “not authorized to impose unilaterally a new method of case allocation” in order to eliminate forum shopping for favorable judges for specific kinds of cases.

In a two-page letter dated May 16, Chief Judge Godbey wrote to Sen. Schumer that he is “cognizant of the public perception of improper judge-shopping in single-judge divisions,” but he said that he is “confident that all the judges in this District are 100 percent faithful to their oaths of office.”