Inquiry Concerning a Judge, No. 03-98 re Andrews

We review the recommendation of the Investigative Panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) that Judge Robert Lance Andrews receive the sanction of a public reprimand for his judicial misconduct.1 We approve the recommendation.

The JQC filed charges against Judge Andrews, alleging that while he presided over the case of Carnato v. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., he made various inappropriate statements concerning the defendant, Novartis, in an interview with a reporter for the Daily Business Review. It was alleged he made the following statements:

1. Novartis was trying to bury the…