Several environmental groups have asked a federal appeals court to disqualify a judge from a lawsuit over the Obama administration’s initial six-month moratorium on deepwater oil drilling.

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman overturned the temporary drilling ban in June and refused last month to withdraw from the case.

In a court filing Thursday, environmental groups supporting the moratorium asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to remove Feldman because of his investments in several oil and gas companies.

ADVERTISEMENT

A 5th Circuit panel last month rejected the government’s bid to restore its six-month ban on issuing new permits for deep-water drilling and suspension of more than 30 existing drilling projects in the Gulf of Mexico.

The Justice Department later issued a new moratorium it hopes would pass muster in court.

Source: AP News

Mochila insert follows…