Two NY Federal Judges Consecutively Step Down From Vaccine Mandate Lawsuits Over Ownership of Pfizer Stock

Two NY Federal Judges Consecutively Step Down From Vaccine Mandate Lawsuits Over Ownership of Pfizer Stock --A third judge was also asked to step down | 16 June 2022 | An Obama-appointed federal judge in New York who owns between $50,000 and $100,000 worth of Pfizer stock has recused herself to avoid the possible appearance of bias or prejudice since she was overseeing a case of NYC teachers trying to get exemptions to the COVID vaccines. Recusal, in legal terms, means that a judge excuses him or herself because of a potential conflict of interest. Valerie Caproni is a United States District Court for the Southern District of New York who was overseeing two cases that could potentially have a conflict of interest. "Plaintiffs argue that the Undersigned's ownership of stock in Pfizer Inc. 'constitutes a direct financial conflict of interest in the outcome of this case,'" reads the order granting recusal of Caproni--the first judge--which was filed on June 11.