Cassell to step down as federal judge in Utah
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Paul Cassell submitted his letter of resignation to President George W. Bush, informing the president his last day on the bench is expected to be Nov. 5.
Cassell has indicated he intends to return to the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah.
"I am both honored and thrilled that Judge Cassell has decided to accept an offer to return to teach and conduct research at the U," said law school Dean Hiram Chodosh. "He will contribute invaluably to our exciting and exemplary Utah Criminal Justice Center and joins the most outstanding criminal justice team in the country."
In his letter to President Bush, Cassell praised his fellow federal judges in Utah and cited two reasons for stepping down. First is a chance to teach again, which will give him time to pursue research in his area of crime victim's rights. The second is to accept an offer to work with the National Crime Victims Law Institute to litigate crime victims' cases across the country.
"While I regret leaving the bench, I am truly excited to return to the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah to pursue teaching, scholarship and public advocacy on important criminal justice issues," Cassell said in a statement issued by the University of Utah.
Cassell was first named professor of law at the University of Utah in 1991. While teaching at the S.J. Quinney College of Law he received many honors and awards, including the 1997 Faculty Achievement Award for Teaching Excellence.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com
Recent comments
Judge Cassell was a half-wit ideolog that had very little understanding...
Thank Goodness | Sept. 21, 2007 at 5:27 p.m.
GREAT news for anyone who still believes the Bill of Rights means...
lifer | Sept. 21, 2007 at 2:10 p.m.
