United States of America, Appellee-Cross-Appellant v. Niels Lauersen, Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Appellee

JON O. NEWMAN, Circuit Judge.

This appeal primarily concerns issues of judicial disqualification and sentencing. The disqualification issue arises because the trial judge owns stock in an insurance company that was among the victims of the defendant’s fraud offense. The sentencing issue arises because an enhancement, claimed by the Government on its cross-appeal to apply, somewhat overlaps with another applicable enhancement, and that overlap might justify a downward departure. Niels Lauersen appeals from the October 17, 2001, judgment of the District Court for the Southern District of New…