Eastern District Judge Thomas C. Platt has been removed from a case because a federal appeals court said he demonstrated “scorn” in his approach to the sentencing of a tax fraud defendant. This is the fourth time since 2008 that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has rebuked the judge for sentencing errors and the third time it has removed him from a case.
In United States v. Woltmann, 10-413, the circuit on Tuesday found Judge Platt “abdicated his judicial responsibility” by refusing to accept a government recommendation that a cooperating defendant be given a lower sentence and failing to consider sentencing factors as required.
