United States DC Circuit

In a contempt proceeding, a special master's ex parte contacts, which may have given him personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts, require his recusal, and any work product prepared by the special master may not be disseminated in any manner.

Appellate Information

• Argued 03/15/2004
• Decided 09/14/2004
• Published 09/14/2004

Judges

• Before:  GINSBURG, Chief Judge, and HENDERSON and RANDOLPH, Circuit Judges.

Court

• United States DC Circuit

Counsel

• For Appellant:
  
• Robert D. Luskin argued the cause for petitioners.   On the petitions for writ of mandamus and reply were Amy Berman Jackson, John Thorpe Richards, Jr., Elizabeth Wallace Fleming, Michael D. Goodstein, Deanna Chang, William H. Briggs, Jr., Marc E. Rindner, Hamilton P. Fox, III, Gregory S. Smith, Thomas E. Wilson, Bradley S. Lui, Dwight Bostwick, and Melissa McNiven.


• For Appellees:
  
• G. William Austin, III argued the cause for respondents.   With him on the response were Dennis M. Gingold, Elliott H. Levitas and Keith Harper.