Judicial Conflict of Interest Alleged in CTIA v. Berkeley

A California nonprofit that advocates for cellphone radiation warnings alleged a conflict of interest by a federal judge overseeing a dispute between CTIA and the city of Berkeley, California. CTIA is challenging in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals the city’s cellphone warning ordinance for RF emissions (see 1609130045). In a news release Tuesday, the California Brain Tumor Association urged Judge Michelle Friedland to recuse herself from the three-judge panel hearing the case. The nonprofit alleged Friedland’s husband, Daniel Kelly, works as an engineer at Tarana Wireless, which designs 5G wireless equipment and is funded by AT&T and T-Mobile USA parent Deutsche Telekom. The U.S. carriers are members of CTIA. Berkeley City Council Member Maxwell Anderson said: “It is appalling to learn that a judge in this case may have possible wireless industry conflicts of interest. It is especially important this be investigated given Judge Friedland’s husband is a key employee of a firm linked to several major players in the trillion dollar wireless sector.” The nonprofit’s head, Ellen Marks, said she hasn’t submitted the allegations to the court. CTIA declined to comment. The court didn’t comment.