Full opinion text
MEMORANDUM MOORE, District Judge. Introduction Attorney Lee J. Rohn is a competent, successful trial lawyer who has occasionally refused to follow the rules of civil procedure, decorum, and professional ethics applicable to all counsel who practice in the District Court of the Virgin Islands. Last winter, for example, I imposed sanctions upon Attorney Rohn for repeatedly using the word “fuck” during judicial proceedings. See Saldana v. Kmart Corp., 84 F.Supp.2d 629, 637, 640 (D.Vi.1999); see also infra Section 11.10 (discussing case in detail). This decision apparently led the Law Offices of Lee J. Rohn and District Court plaintiffs Peter Anderson, Catherine Figueroa, Caledonia Springs, Inc., Domino Oil, Inc., Marie Sal-dana, Islands Management Group, Inc., and Will Jones [collectively, “petitioners”], to ask that I disqualify myself in perpetuity from all cases handled by Attorney Rohn and her law firm for personal bias or prejudice. The petitioners have not requested a hearing, nor is one necessary for me to dispose of their unfounded, broadly-worded, and overwrought accusations. The petitioners’ premise — that I harbor or appear to possess some personal antagonism toward Attorney Rohn — has absolutely no basis in fact. None of my actions or decisions, including those which sanctioned or disciplined Attorney Rohn, approach the sort of conduct required for recusal. As the Supreme Court has declared: [Olpinions formed by the judge on the basis of facts introduced or events occurring in the course of the current proceedings, or of prior proceedings, do not constitute a basis for a bias or partiality motion unless they display a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible. Thus, judicial remarks during the course of a trial that are critical or disapproving of, or even hostile to, counsel, the parties, or their cases, ordinarily do not support a bias or partiality challenge.... Not establishing bias or partiality ... are expressions of impatience, dissatisfaction, annoyance, and even anger, that are within the bounds of what imperfect men and women, even after having been confirmed as federal judges, sometimes display. A judge’s ordinary efforts at courtroom administration — even a stern and short-tempered judge’s ordinary efforts at courtroom administration — remain immune. Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555-56, 114 S.Ct. 1147, 127 L.Ed.2d 474 (1994). The reasonable and objective observer who takes the time to become fully informed by going through the petitioners’ accusations and the recorded facts in Attorney Rohn’s cases would conclude that the petitioners’ motion is baseless, and that I have no grounds to reassign all of Attorney Rohn’s cases to another judge. This Memorandum Opinion will demonstrate at some length, through constant reference to the public record, that my decisions evince no bias or prejudice toward Attorney Rohn, her firm, or her clients. The petitioners’ desperate, overreaching accusations are unworthy of belief, and merely illustrate my previous comments regarding the litigation tactics employed by the petitioners’ counsel. See Saldana, 84 F.Supp.2d at 639 (observing that, “[t]o Attorney Rohn, litigation is a form of mortal combat which she must win at any and all costs”). I will deny the petitioners’ attempt to convert their attorney’s misconduct into grounds for judicial disqualification. DISCUSSION I. Underlying Law The petitioners move for disqualification under title 28, sections 144 and 455 of the United States Code. (See Pet., Jan. 21, 2000, at 2, 30.) Their request reveals some confusion over which federal disqualification statute applies to proceedings in the District Court of the Virgin Islands. Section 144 does not apply because this tribunal is not a “District Court of the United States” established under Article III of the United States Constitution. See 28 U.S.C. § 451; Callwood v. Callwood, 3 V.I. 61, 64, 127 F.Supp. 179, 180 (D.Vi.1954); see also Government of Virgin Islands v. Gereau, 11 V.I. 265, 295, 502 F.2d 914, 931 (3d Cir.1974) (adopting conclusion drawn in Callwood); (Pl.’s Mot. to Recuse, Civ. No.1996-015, at 2 n. 2 (St. Croix Div. Nov. 12, 1998)). Section 455 governs the claims raised in the petition. It applies “to each court created by Act of Congress in a territory which is invested with any jurisdiction of a district court of the United States.” See 28 U.S.C. § 460. This statute mandates that a judge “shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned,” or “where he has a personal bias or prejudice concerning a party.” 28 U.S.C. § 455(a-b). I harbor no personal bias or prejudice whatsoever against Attorney Rohn, or any of the petitioners. Therefore, it remains for me to determine whether a rational, objective member of the public who knows all of the relevant facts might fairly question my impartiality. See, e.g., Edelstein v. Wilentz, 812 F.2d 128, 131 (3d Cir.1987); (Pet’rs’ Mem., Jan. 21, 2000, at 3). II. Judicial Grounds Advanced for Disqualification I categorically reject the petitioners’ allegations that I am “blinded by personal bias” “so total, reckless and malicious” that I “appear bent on punishing counsel,” and refuse to fairly apply the law, “seemingly to publicly humiliate Attorney Rohn,” who has “suffered ... threats, derogatory remarks, antipathy and personal sanctions.” (See Pet. at 8, 7, 5, 22, 28, 43.) Nonetheless, I must examine the petitioners’ assertion that reasonable, informed persons would accept these accusations, or believe that I appear to possess “pervasive” bias or prejudice against Attorney Rohn or her clients. The Supreme Court has held that “judicial rulings alone almost never constitute a valid basis for a bias or partiality motion.” See Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555, 114 S.Ct. 1147 (citation omitted). Opinions derived from judicial proceedings are not grounds for disqualification unless they evince “a deep-seated favoritism or antagonism that would make fair judgment impossible.” Id. Reasonable, objective persons armed with the facts would perceive no such favoritism or antagonism in my decisions. As support for their accusations, the petitioners advance arguments and affidavits relating to seven District Court cases handled by Attorney Rohn: Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, Figueroa v. Buccaneer Hotel, Inc., Caledonia Springs, Inc. v. Royal Insurance of Puerto Rico, Inc., Domino Oil, Inc. v. Phoenix Assurance Co., Saldana v. Kmart Corporation, Islands Management Group, Inc. v. Bank of Nova Scotia, and Jones v. Daily News Publishing Co. The petitioners fail to acknowledge that Attorney Rohn and her law firm have appeared before me in many other cases without questioning my impartiality or suffering sanctions or adverse rulings. They simply maintain that “there has not been a case where Judge Moore has not been negative or derogatory about Attorney Rohn personally, or her clients, or the nature of her clients^] claims, or where he has not gone out of his way to heap sanctions upon her or her clients.” (Pet. at 31.) The following review of cases involving Attorney Rohn reveals that the petitioners are wrong. 1.Daniel v. Government of the Virgin Islands Some time ago, Attorney Rohn represented Rose Daniel [“Daniel”] in an appeal before the Appellate Division of the District Court. I eventually authored the opinion of the Court, which found that the Territorial Court erred in denying Daniel’s motion to file a late tort claim against the government, and concluded that the trial court abused its discretion in denying Daniel’s motion to amend the complaint. See Daniel v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 30 V.I. 134, 139-41, 1994 WL 392236, at *3-4 (D.VI. May 26, 1994). Far from being “negative or derogatory about Attorney Rohn personally, or her clients, or the nature of her clients[’] claims[,]” this opinion held in favor of Attorney Rohn’s client. 2. Henry v. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. Thereafter, Attorney Rohn represented George Henry [“Henry”] in a District Court tort action against Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. [“HOVIC”]. In resolving HOVIC’s post-trial motions for a second trial, or remittur of the jury’s $1.1 million damage award, I carefully weighed the facts and the law, and decided that a second trial on HOVIC’s liability was unwarranted. See Henry v. Hess Oil V.I. Corp., 33 V.I. 163, 172, 163 F.R.D. 237, 244 (D.VI.1995). Although the jury’s award of damages had to be remitted or retried because it was’ “shockingly excessive and not rationally based on the evidence adduced at trial,” I ruled that HOVIC remained liable to Attorney Rohn’s client. See 33 V.I. at 180, 163 F.R.D. at 245. My decision upholding HOVIC’s liability and requiring further proceedings on damages evinced no bias or prejudice toward Attorney Rohn or her clients. 3. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. v. Richardson The following year, Attorney Rohn defended the interests of Erica Richardson [“Richardson”] on appeal at the District Court when HOVIC challenged the trial court’s denial of its motions to dismiss Richardson’s complaint. I authored an opinion in which the Appellate Division overruled another Territorial Court decision in rejecting HOVIC’s appeal. See Hess Oil V.I. Corp. v. Richardson, 32 V.I. 336, 339, 894 F.Supp. 211, 213 (D.V.I.1995) (overruling Daniel v. St. Thomas Dairies, Inc., 27 V.I. 120 (Terr.Ct.1992), and affirming trial court’s holding that the Virgin Islands Wrongful Discharge Act “does not require exhaustion of administrative remedies or election between administrative and judicial remedies”). My opinion for the Court was not “negative or derogatory about Attorney Rohn personally, or her clients, or the nature of her clients!’] claims.” 4. Codrington v. Virgin Islands Port Authority In 1995 and 1996, Attorney Rohn represented Lauretta Codrington [“Codring-ton”] in a District Court tort and civil rights action against the Virgin Islands Port Authority [“VIPA”]. When VIPA and its co-defendant, Wendell Hanley [“Hanley”], moved for summary judgment on Codrington’s complaint, I reviewed the pertinent facts and law and rendered a decision based on both. See Codrington v. Virgin Islands Port Auth., 33 V.I. 245, 911 F.Supp. 907 (D.VI.1996). I agreed with many of Codrington’s arguments because there were “genuine issues of material fact over most of the issues raised,” and her evidence, “though disputed, clearly would make out a prima facie case.” See 33 V.I. at 247, 251, 911 F.Supp. at 910, 912. I dismissed several of her claims for monetary damages, however, because VIPA is not subject to punitive damages as a public corporation, and the Supreme Court has held that compensatory damages are not available by statute for certain acts that occurred before November 21, 1991. See 33 V.I. at 252-61, 911 F.Supp. at 913-18 (citing Landgraf v. USI Film Prods., 511 U.S. 244, 114 S.Ct. 1483, 128 L.Ed.2d 229 (1994)). I reiterated that, if Codrington’s statements were true, defendant Hanley’s behavior was “clearly outrageous enough to support a claim.” See Codrington, 911 F.Supp. at 918. While I would not expect the client-petitioners to be aware of my decision in Codrington, or any of three cases discussed above, Attorney Rohn or her law firm obviously knew about these published opinions and yet failed to mention them in their zeal to impugn my impartiality. 5. Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands In September, 1996, Peter Anderson [“Anderson”] sued the Government of the Virgin Islands, Police Commissioner Ramon Davila [“Davila”], and several other police officers for racial and national origin discrimination. (See Compl., Civ. No.1996-118 (St. Croix Div. Sept. 6, 1996).) Anderson and Attorney Rohn moved for a temporary restraining order [“TRO”] and preliminary injunction. (See Pl.’s Mot., Sept. 19, 1996.) Judge Raymond L. Finch recused himself from this case on September 24, 1996, and the case was assigned to me. In the early evening of October 1, 1996, I conferred by telephone with counsel to schedule an emergency hearing. During this conference, I denied the defendants’ motion to disqualify Attorney Rohn, accepting her representation as a member of the bar “that it was not necessary for her to be a witness in this proceeding, that whatever she was going to put on in connection with this hearing ... would be based strictly on testimony and other evidence other than what she [was] involved in.” (Tr., Hr’g. for Prelim. Injunct., Oct. 2, 1996, at 6 [“Hr’g. Tr.”]); see Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, Civ. No.1996-118, slip. op. at 3-4 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Oct. 16, 1996) [“Anderson I ”]. To afford Attorney Rohn and her client a speedy hearing, I heard the TRO and preliminary injunction motions together on the following day, October 2, 1996, in St. Thomas. After a two-day emergency hearing, I not only found in Anderson’s favor, but also enjoined the police department from investigating or surveilling Anderson or his attorney, Lee J. Rohn. [T]he Court found that the defendants had engaged in surveillance of Peter Anderson and Lee Rohn as a direct result of the lawsuit Mr. Anderson filed. The Court noted that the initial efforts to determine the ownership of [Attorney Rohn’s] red Jeep and [a suspect’s] connection to it were properly based upon reasonable suspicion arising from information received in an ongoing criminal investigation of drug activity. By late February 1996, however, what may have started as a proper investigation was converted and perverted into an effort to “dig up dirt” on Rohn and her client in response to [this civil] lawsuit. See Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 35 V.I. 314, 318, 947 F.Supp. 894, 897 (D.VI.1996) [“Anderson II”]. I also denied the defendants’ request to stay this injunction pending appeal. See 35 V.I. at 329, 947 F.Supp. at 903. Given these undisputed facts, the petitioners’ effort to twist the Anderson record into proof of my supposed bias against Attorney Rohn and her clients is bizarre. In November, 1997,1 granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss several of Anderson’s claims with and without prejudice, concluding that the “murky” complaint did not distinguish between the Government of the Virgin Islands and the individual defendants on multiple counts and relied on inapplicable statutes or failed to state facts that would entitle Anderson to a legal remedy. See Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, Civ. No.1996-118, slip. op. at 13, 14, 16, 20, 23, 24-25, 33-34, 37, 41 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Nov. 21, 1997) [“Anderson III”]. Noting that “the defendants engaged in concerted efforts to violate [the] plaintiffs constitutional rights,” I denied the defendants’ motions to dismiss Anderson’s other claims. See id. at 19, 29-30, 36, 37, 40-41. I also denied Anderson’s motion for partial reconsideration. See Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 39 V.I. 235, 240, 180 F.R.D. 284, 288 (D.VI.1998) [“Anderson IV”]. On January 16, 1997, Attorney Rohn caused a subpoena duces tecum for Davi-la’s employment records to be issued to his former employer, the United States Customs Service [“Customs Service”]. In a January 31, 1997, letter, the Customs Service informed Attorney Rohn that she had not followed the proper procedures in submitting this request. The letter drew her attention to the precise federal regulations applicable to the discovery request, explicitly described what this first subpoena should have contained, and invited counsel to contact the Customs Service by telephone if she had further questions concerning the procedure for obtaining the desired documents. In March 1997, Attorney Rohn issued a second subpoena to the Customs Service and again failed to follow the proper procedure. On June 11, 1998, I granted defendant Davila’s motion to quash these two subpoe-nae duces tecum for his employment records. First, plaintiffs counsel issued the ... [original] subpoena with the heading of the District Court in St. Croix and directed it to an entity located far outside the geographic reach of this Court’s civil jurisdiction. The subpoena also commanded the recipient to produce documents to plaintiffs counsel’s office located in St. Croix. This Court cannot order a non-party outside of its jurisdiction to produce documents to a place within this district.... The subpoena also failed to include the text of subdivisions (c) and (d) of [Federal Rule of Civil Procedure] 45 as mandated by the rule. Aside from the correct heading, ... the March Subpoena suffers from the same defects as found in the January Subpoena. See 39 V.I. at 244-45, 180 F.R.D. at 290. Davila filed several motions for sanctions against Attorney Rohn for her manifest refusal to follow the correct discovery procedures, and for abuse of the subpoena process. (See, e.g., Def.’s Supp. Mem., May 15, 1997; Def.’s Second Supp. Mot., Apr. 24, 1997.) Attorney Rohn fully responded to these motions. (See Pl.’s Opp’n, May 29, 1997; Pl.’s Opp’n, Apr. 25, 1997.) After reviewing these submissions, I found that, “[e]ven after she was advised directly by the Customs Service how to go about seeking to obtain [the desired] documents ... counsel blithely issued another subpoena containing the same defects as the first and blatantly ignored the federal regulations.” See Anderson IV, 39 V.I. at 247, 180 F.R.D. at 292. I required Attorney Rohn to reimburse Davila for the costs and attorneys fees incurred in quashing these defective subpoenas. See id. Attorney Rohn later asked the Court of Appeals to dismiss her interlocutory appeal of this decision. (See Order, No. 99-3772 (3d Cir. Dec. 23, 1999) (dismissing appeal under Fed.R.App.P. 42(b)).) The petitioners contend that my decision to grant defendant Davila’s motions for sanctions supports the view that “Judge Moore, with monotonous regularity, ... invites opposing counsel in cases involving Attorney Rohn to move for sanctions.” (Pet. at 19 (emphasis added).) Yet the sole proof submitted to support this accusation are my orders granting part of the defendants’ motions to dismiss and granting Davila’s motions for sanctions. Neither of these orders invited opposing counsel to move for sanctions. (See Pet., Ex. 24-25 (orders from Anderson III and Anderson IV).) As the record conclusively shows that Davila moved for sanctions on his own initiative, (see Def.’s Supp. Mem., May 15, 1997; Def.’s Second Supp. Mot., Apr. 24, 1997), the petitioners’ accusations do not accord with the truth. Next, the petitioners accuse me of acting improperly in sanctioning Attorney Rohn for abuse of the subpoena process because “there was no showing that the failure was intentional and the evidence was that it was due to a misunderstanding as to what was legally required.” (See Pet., Ex. 1, at 1.) This is a clear mischaracterization of the evidence, as I have already observed: “Attorney Rohn’s subsequent refusal to comply with the applicable federal regulations after the Customs Service had so carefully pointed out her errors and advised her how to correct them could only have been wilfull.” Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, 190 F.R.D. 370, 372 (D.Vi.1999); see also Anderson IV, 39 V.I. at 247, 180 F.R.D. at 292. My decision to sanction Attorney Rohn provides no grounds for recusal. “A judge cannot be disqualified merely because he believes in upholding the law, even though he says so with vehemence.” Baskin v. Brown, 174 F.2d 391, 394 (4th Cir.1949). The petitioners further argue that the Anderson case “clearly evidences that in Judge Moore’s eyes, Attorney Rohn can do no right, and as a result her clients ... are adversely affected.” (Pet. at 19.) Nonsense. My decisions in Anderson testify to the fact that I rule in favor of Attorney Rohn and her clients when the facts and law are in their favor. I rejected the defendants’ attempts to disqualify Attorney Rohn as Anderson’s counsel, determined that Attorney Rohn and her client had been the subjects of unconstitutional police surveillance, entered an injunction in their favor, and refused to stay that order pending appeal. See Anderson II, 35 V.I. at 317, 329, 947 F.Supp. at 896, 902. Last September, I again ruled in Anderson’s favor by denying defendant Davila’s motion for summary judgment. See Anderson v. Government of the Virgin Islands, Civ. No.1996-118, slip op. at 6 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Sept. 3, 1999). Attorney Rohn’s law firm recently defended my ruling and persuaded the Court of Appeals to affirm my decision to retain Davila as a defendant. See Government of the Virgin Islands v. Anderson, No. 99-3899, slip. op. (3d Cir. Apr. 28, 2000); see also infra Section II.11 (identifying another recent instance in which Attorney Rohn’s law firm defended my judgment on appeal). In addition to the foregoing, I merely note that the exhibits filed in support of the recusal motion include no affidavit from Peter Anderson. Finally, Attorney Rohn complains that I somehow treated her “rudely” because the hearing on her motion for injunctive relief “took 3^4 days and required [her] to pay the necessary airfare to fly witnesses between St. Thomas and St. Croix on a daily basis.” (See Pet., Ex. 1, at 1.) I viewed Attorney Rohn’s motion as an emergency and was able to expedite the hearing by fitting it into my St. Thomas calendar. As my telephone conference with the attorneys on the preceding evening was not recorded, I made the following statement before the emergency hearing began: [Although there should have been no confusion because it was always made clear that this hearing would be handled on St. Thomas as my schedule allowed .... [f]or some reason Attorney Rohn believed that it was for St. Croix. And so the subpoenas were for St. Croix. That’s why Attorney Rohn made arrangements to get people here. One of the things that I have said, as police officers testify, and you can get back to St. Croix, ... and Attorney Rohn will bear the cost of that, right? MS. ROHN: That’s correct, Your Hon- or. (Hr’g. Tr. at 15.) The heating only took two days, and Attorney Rohn’s suggestion that I treated her “rudely” is as far from the truth as her claim that the hearing took three or four days. 6. Figueroa v. Buccaneer Hotel, Inc. On February 19, 1998, I granted summary judgment to defendant-respondents Buccaneer Hotel, Inc., Companion Assurance Co., and Meridian Engineering, Inc., on plaintiff-petitioner Catherine Figueroa’s [“Figueroa”] religion discrimination claim under Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964. I found that Figueroa’s federal claim “was frivolous and filed in bad faith” well past the expiration of Title VIPs ninety-day statute of limitations, and I ruled that prior case law appeared to foreclose her Virgin Islands Civil Rights Act [“VICRA”] claim. See Figueroa v. Buccaneer Hotel, Inc., Civ. No.1996-015, slip. op. at 2-4 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Feb. 19, 1998) (citations omitted), aff'd and rev’d in part, 188 F.3d 172 (3d Cir.1999). I accordingly dismissed petitioner Figueroa’s entire complaint, including the federal Title VII claim and the local VICRA claim, as well as other strictly local causes of action: As the remaining counts state no federal cause of action, this case will be dismissed with prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. Defendants have moved for costs and such will be awarded under 5 V.I.C. [§ ] 541. This Court finds that at least the Title VII claim was frivolous and filed in bad faith, and this Court invites defendants to move for sanctions under 28 U.S.C. [§ ] 1927. Figueroa, slip. op. at 4. Although the defendants did not move for sanctions, they submitted a bill of costs, which I awarded in a lesser amount, to be paid jointly and severally by Attorney Rohn and her client. My opinion recounted that the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [“EEOC”] had warned Figueroa that, if she intended to sue the defendants, she would have to do so “WITHIN NINETY (90) DAYS ... OTHERWISE YOUR RIGHT TO SUE IS LOST.” See id. at 2 (emphasis in original letter). Figueroa waited almost half a year before suing the defendants in District Court, forcing the defendants to expend costs and attorneys fees to defend an obviously time-barred federal action and local claims that could not be filed in District Court absent a viable federal claim. The Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit agreed that Figueroa’s “failure to file suit within the 90-day time period completely bar[red] her Title VII claim,” and that her arguments to the contrary were “unsupported and totally lacking in merit.” See Figueroa, 188 F.3d at 176. After lengthy discussion, however, the Court of Appeals disagreed with my VICRA analysis and concluded that the statute authorized private suits. Although the appellate panel held that I “acted well within [my] discretion in dismissing Figueroa’s territorial claims,” it vacated my dismissal of her VICRA claim. See id. at 181. This decision voided the award of costs because the defendants were no longer the prevailing parties in District Court on all of the local claims. See id. at 183. The Court of Appeals expressed concern with my use of the phrase “dismissed with prejudice” on Figueroa’s other local claims, since this dismissal “for lack of subject matter jurisdiction” was not an adjudication on the merits and should have been “without prejudice.” Accordingly, the Court directed me to amend my order to dismiss the local claims “without prejudice.” See id. at 182. In addition, the Court of Appeals found that, to the extent my award of costs was a sanction for Figueroa’s filing of a stale federal claim, I imposed it without giving Figueroa or Attorney Rohn sufficient notice and an opportunity to respond. The Court of Appeals did not find that an assessment of costs was unwarranted, however, and even suggested that I could consider on remand whether an award of fees on the dismissed federal claim would be appropriate under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 54(b). See id. at 182-83. A fair reading of the Court of Appeals’ opinion lends no support to the petitioners’ grave accusations of judicial hostility, and could not lead a reasonable person to seriously question my impartiality. For example, petitioners Rohn and Figueroa accuse me of “attempting permanently to deprive the Plaintiff of her constitutional right to a trial on the merits.” (See Pet. at 5.) The Court of Appeals effectively rejected this view by noting that it “could interpret [my] language ‘with prejudice’ narrowly as a statement regarding Figueroa’s inability to later pursue these claims in federal court.” See 188 F.3d at 182. Petitioners Rohn and Figueroa further maintain that I “imposed the extreme sanction of dismissal with prejudice ... for perceived infractions by Plaintiffs Counsel Attorney Rohn.” (See id. (emphasis added).) There is nothing in my opinion or the opinion of the Court of Appeals to suggest that I dismissed Figueroa’s other local claims as a sanction. To reiterate, I dismissed both the federal and local causes of action, other than the VICRA claim, solely for lack of jurisdiction, and the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit upheld the dismissal. The Court of Appeals found grounds for reversal in Figueroa, not for recusal. It affirmed my rulings on most of the plaintiffs claims, reversed my grant of summary judgment on one claim, and resolved ambiguities in the summary judgment order and fee award in the plaintiffs favor. The Figueroa panel’s opinion does not evidence any perception of bias or animosity toward Attorney Rohn on my part. Neither my summary judgment and fee award orders nor the appellate panel’s decision to amend and reverse part of those orders provide any grounds for recusal. See Jones v. Pittsburgh Nat. Corp., 899 F.2d 1350, 1357 (3d Cir.1990) (perceiving no appearance of bias in trial court’s imposition of personal sanctions upon attorney without due process of law); Johnson v. Trueblood, 629 F.2d 287, 291 (3d Cir.1980); Mayberry v. Maroney, 558 F.2d 1159, 1162-63 (3d Cir.1977) (rejecting any inference of partiality based on errors committed by trial court); Stephen v. Antigua Brewery, Ltd., 88 F.Supp.2d 422, 425 (D.Vi.2000) (“errors sometimes arise out of judicial proceedings, but they do not generally provide grounds for recusal”); see also Barnett v. City of Chicago, 952 F.Supp. 1265, 1271 (N.D.Ill.1997) (recognizing that reversal of trial court’s dismissal order does not bring judge’s impartiality into question). 7. Griffith v. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. In 1998, Attorney Rohn also represented Bernard Griffith and other former HOVIC employees [“Griffith plaintiffs”] in a civil rights suit against HOVIC and its parent company, Amerada Hess Corp. [“AHC”]. Less than three months after my decision in Figueroa, on May 14, 1998, I denied HOVIC and AHC’s motion to dismiss the Griffith plaintiffs’ case. See Griffith v. Hess Oil V.I. Corp., 39 V.I. 199, 206, 6 F.Supp.2d 336, 340 (D.Vi.1998). In reaching this decision, I relied on a recent opinion that I received by mail from Attorney Rohn’s office. See Griffith, 39 V.I. at 206-07, 5 F.Supp.2d at 339 (discussing Charles v. HOVIC, Civ. No.1994-081, slip. op. (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Dec. 8, 1997) (Finch, J.)). Opposing counsel at the law firm of Bryant, White & Barnes, P.C., whose successor firm appears in the current proceedings, urged me to disregard this “unauthorized communication” and moved for sanctions in “the high five figures.” Attorney Rohn’s office filed a counter-motion for sanctions, describing this motion as “legal harassment,” “an abuse of the legal process,” and an “unbelievable demonstration of ... ‘chutzpah.’ ” See 39 V.I. at 205-06, 5 F.Supp.2d at 339-40. I refused to impose sanctions upon Attorney Rohn’s law firm or clients even though her office’s counter-motion plainly employed “unenlightening, ... unnecessary and undignified” language. See 39 V.I. at 205, 5 F.S.upp.2d at 340. Rather, I granted her client’s counter-motion to sanction opposing counsel for “attempting to prevent the Court from considering an earlier decision on parallel facts.” Viewed in light of this published decision, the petitioners’ assertion that “there has not been a ease where Judge Moore has not ... gone out of his way to heap sanctions upon [Attorney Rohn] or her clients,” (Pet. at 31), demonstrates a lack of respect for the truth. 8. Caledonia Springs, Inc. v. Royal Insurance of Puerto Rico, Inc. According to the petitioners, my August 13, 1998, decision in Caledonia Springs, Inc. reflects my “patent inability to be impartial in any matter ... in which Attorney Rohn is counsel of record.” (Pet. at 17.) They charge that I, “once again, eschewed established precedent, [and] violated counsel and her client’s constitutionally protected rights.” (See id. at 12.) A dispassionate review of the record reveals that these accusations are unfounded. My decision reveals no “deep-seated ... antagonism,” see Liteky, 510 U.S. at 555, 114 S.Ct. 1147, and would not cause reasonable and well-informed observers to doubt my impartiality. Caledonia originally brought suit in Territorial Court in August, 1996, against only one defendant, Royal Insurance of Puerto Rico, Inc. [“Royal P.R.”], for bad faith, breach of contract, and other acts related to its insurance claims for hurricane damage. Royal P.R. removed the case to this Court. [See Def.’s Notice of Removal, Civ. No.1996-111 (St. Croix Div. Aug. 23, 1996).) As early as mid-January, 1998, Attorney Rohn planned a trip to Europe for the first ten days of April, 1998, and sought Royal P.R.’s assistance in deposing persons related to the case while she was in England. (See Exs. to Pl.’s Mot., Mar. 17, 1998.) When Royal P.R. asserted that it was unable to arrange for depositions of some of these witnesses because they were citizens and residents of Great Britain who were neither employed by Royal P.R. nor otherwise subject to the District Court’s jurisdiction, Caledonia asked the magistrate judge to compel their attendance. CSee Pl.’s Mot, Mar. 17,1998.) Caledonia’s motion to compel, filed less than two weeks before Attorney Rohn was to leave on her long-scheduled trip to Europe, is the first recorded mention of an intent to depose Andrew Gentry [“Gentry”], a foreign citizen who worked for another company, Royal Insurance International, Ltd. [“Royal International”], in London, England. (See id. at 2.) Attorney Rohn filed this motion to compel before attempting to personally notify Gentry of the proposed deposition. (See Pl.’s First Notice, Mar. 18, 1998.) In response to Caledonia’s motion to compel, Royal P.R. restated that neither Gentry nor Royal International were defendants or otherwise subject to the District Court’s jurisdiction, and pointed out that Caledonia had not complied with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 28 to require Gentry to appear as a witness for the foreign deposition. (See Def.’s Opp’n, Mar. 19,1998.) After a pre-trial conference, the magistrate judge summarily ordered that “Andrew Gentry will be produced for deposition as noticed, Mr. Gentry being a person with supervisory authority over the management of the claim presented to Royal Insurance Co. of Puerto Rico.” (Order, Már. 20, 1998.) Royal P.R. appealed this ruling and the magistrate judge’s subsequent denial of a stay to the district judge. (See Def.’s Appeal, Apr. 3, 1998; Def.’s Appeal, Mar. 27, 1998.) In a letter transmitted by facsimile to counsel for Royal P.R. on April 3, 1998, Gentry’s solicitors at Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue [“Jones Day”] took the position that Caledonia’s notice of deposition was “entirely ineffective in respect of Mr. Gentry, who is not a party to the litigation and who resides outside the United States.” The solicitors further advised that Gentry “would not appear to give a deposition in this matter unless he is ordered to comply with a valid order of the English High Court that he should do so, pursuant to the Evidence (Proceedings in other Jurisdictions) Act of 1975 and the Hague Evidence Convention.” (Pet., Ex. 15.) In Caledonia’s written response, dated April 7, 1998, Attorney Rohn conceded that the District Court did not have jurisdiction over Gentry, but contended that the court did have jurisdiction over Royal International, even though Caledonia had not named Royal International as a defendant. Attorney Rohn then purported to predict what I would do if Royal International did not produce Mr. Gentry and threatened “Royal” with that prophesy. She stated: Should Royal refuse to obey the Court’s order, then I will move the Court to hold them in contempt, which would range from a fíne, to a requirement that Mr. Gentry travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands to be deposed. I really don’t know what your Mr. Gentry has to hide. I would suggest that his appearance for a brief, factual deposition of an hours length, as scheduled, rather than his later being forced to come to the Virgin Islands, as a result of a contempt of Court’s order against Royal Puerto Rico would be preferable. (See Pet., Ex. 17 (Letter from Attorney Lee J. Rohn to “Jonas Day” (Apr. 7, 1998)).) Thereafter, Caledonia served Gentry with a facially invalid subpoena purporting to issue from the “United States District Court Knightsbridge District of London,” and demanded that he appear for a deposition on April 9, 1998. (See Resp’t’s Opp’n, Feb. 9, 2000, at 32.) Attorney Rohn referred to this invalid subpoena in her April 7th letter, stating that “Mr. Gentry has been properly served a subpoena by an English process server to attend the deposition.” (See Pet., Ex. 17.) Gentry’s solicitors responded to this letter by reminding Attorney Rohn that their client still had not received proper service of process: [Gentry] will, of course, comply with any valid order issued by a court having jurisdiction over him. Should you wish to obtain evidence " from our client, we suggest that you comply with the appropriate procedures that are set forth in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and in 28 U.S.C. § 1781 et seq. (See Pet., Ex. 16.) Gentry’s deposition did not take place on April 9,1998. Caledonia then moved for sanctions against Royal P.R. (See Pl.’s Mot. for Sanctions, Apr. 27, 1998.) Royal P.R. responded that “it is Plaintiffs conduct that is sanetionable in this instance,” citing Caledonia’s April 7th letter, its invalid subpoena, and its persistent failure to properly serve the proposed deponent with process under the Hague Convention and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure governing service of process on persons in foreign lands. (See Def.’s Opp’n, Apr. 30, 1998, at 1-4.) Earlier, Royal P.R. had requested that Caledonia be required to “pay defendant’s expenses to attend said deposition, including reasonable attorney’s fees” if Caledonia established “personal jurisdiction over Mr. Gentry and satisfie[d] the procedures for a foreign deposition.” (See Def.’s Mem., Mar. 27,1998, at 9-10.) On August 13, 1998, I partially granted and partially denied Royal P.R.’s appeal of the two magistrate judge orders. As the petitioners claim that this decision reflects my blind, irreparable prejudice against them, I will reproduce the pertinent part of my previously-unpublished ruling below. Jones Day responded to the letter on April 14, referring to the “threats contained in [plaintiffs counsel’s] letter [as] both unfounded and offensive” a description this Court finds charitable. The letter also referred to a form subpoena served on Mr. Gentry which had been filled in by plaintiffs counsel captioned under the header “United States District Court Knightsbridge District of London” dated March 19. Jones Day pointed out that “[n]o such court exists,” a point this Court, which does exist, can take judicial notice of. As a sanction for this unprofessional conduct, the Court is inclined to bar plaintiff from attempting to depose Mr. Gentry. In fairness to the plaintiff, however, the Court must allow the facts to surface. It can quite fairly be said that Mr. Gentry is not an employee of a mere non-party, but that he was acting as either an employee of Royal PR in his involvement with this matter, or that Mr. Gentry’s acts blurred the line between Royal PR and Royal International to the extent that, for these purposes, the latter can be considered an alter ego of the other. Therefore, in the interest of fairness and judicial economy, plaintiffs counsel can depose Mr. Gentry pursuant to, and only pursuant to, the Hague Convention. If plaintiffs counsel chooses to depose Mr. Gentry, it will be at her expense and at a convenient time and place for Mr. Gentry. Finally, defense counsel and counsel for Mr. Gentry should provide a copy of its expenses in dealing with this matter to both the Court and plaintiff, who shall bear such costs. Caledonia Springs, Inc. v. Royal Ins. Co. of Puerto Rico, Inc., Civ. No.1996-111, slip. op. at 1-4 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Aug. 13, 1998) (emphasis in original). I denied Caledonia’s motion for sanctions against Royal P.R. because Royal P.R. articulated substantial grounds for its conduct: The magistrate judge had erred in requiring Royal P.R. to produce Gentry; as Attorney Rohn had conceded, Gentry was not subject to the jurisdiction of this Court; and Caledonia was not entitled to compel Gentry’s compliance with a deposition notice that Attorney Rohn had not properly served on him. Consequently, my ruling to modify the magistrate judge’s order and deny Caledonia’s motion for sanctions was compelled by the facts and the law. I assessed costs against Caledonia and required Attorney Rohn to bear the expenses of Gentry’s deposition because Attorney Rohn’s conduct on Caledonia’s behalf appeared unprofessional and actuated by bad faith. Both the April 7th letter, in content and as addressed to “Mr. Jonas Day,” and the false subpoena purporting to issue from the “United States District Court Knightsbridge District of London” support this view. My ruling of August 13, 1998, is not grounds for judicial disqualification. See, e.g., United States v. Grinnell Corp., 384 U.S. 563, 583, 86 S.Ct. 1698, 16 L.Ed.2d 778 (1966) (concluding that recusal was not warranted where judge’s adverse attitude toward defendant was based on study of facts, depositions, and briefs) (section 144 case); Yagman v. Republic Ins., 987 F.2d 622, 625 (9th Cir.1993) (recognizing that imposition of sanctions does not necessitate recusal and concluding that trial judge’s repeated abuse of discretion did not warrant recusal motion); see also United States v. Franks, 511 F.2d 25, 37 (6th Cir.1975) (noting that judges may preside over cases involving persons that they have cited for contempt) (citations omitted); Honneus v. United States, 425 F.Supp. 164, 166 (D.Mass.1977) (holding that referral of attorney to disciplinary committee does not create appearance of bias). I weighed the facts and applied my understanding of the law. My ruling did not display a “deep-seated favoritism or antagonism,” and did not imperil the appearance of justice. Attorney Rohn and Caledonia perceive judicial animus in the timing of my decision. They complain that I deliberately ignored the appellate brief and motion for recusal filed by petitioner Figueroa when I sanctioned Attorney Rohn in this case. My order imposing sanctions in Caledonia Springs, Inc., was issued two months before Figueroa filed her appellate brief on October 13th, and three months before Figueroa filed her recusal motion on November 12, 1998. (See Order, Aug. 13, 1998.) Once again, the petitioners are mistaken. 9. Domino Oil, Inc. v. Phoenix Assurance Co. Attorney Rohn did not represent plaintiff-petitioner Domino Oil, Inc. [“Domino”], on April 16, 1998, when I dismissed its breach of contract action against defendant-respondent Phoenix Assurance Co. [“Phoenix”] after fall briefing and a hearing. Nevertheless, the petitioners advance this decision as grounds for blanket recu-sal from all of Attorney Rohn’s cases. My first written decision in Domino Oil, Inc. cannot have stemmed from my alleged bias toward Attorney Rohn because she did not yet represent the plaintiff. In this first, unpublished decision, I noted that [m]ueh fact intensive squabbling has [occurred]. Phoenix has denied [Domino’s] claim in full based on the alleged fraud in submitting the re-processing claim. Domino has filed suit alleging breach of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and requests punitive damages. Phoenix has in turn cross-claimed for its $150,000 advance. Phoenix filed a motion to dismiss the bad faith claim, to which Domino responded and filed a cross-motion for summary judgment. Domino Oil, Inc. v. Phoenix Assurance Co., Civ. No.1996-099, slip. op. at 2 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Apr. 16, 1998) [“Domino I”]. After denying Domino’s motion for summary judgment, I considered Phoenix’s motion to dismiss and, “[b]ased on the same facts recited ... in denying summary judgment to plaintiff,” concluded that New York law applied. I granted Phoenix’s motion and dismissed Domino’s second amended complaint without prejudice because the complaint did not sufficiently “plead fraud, a high degree of moral turpitude, wanton dishonesty and criminal indifference to civil obligation which is aimed at the public generally,” as required under New York law. See id. at 5. After Attorney Rohn appeared as Domino’s counsel, I granted her motion to reconsider this decision and reinstated Domino’s complaint for compensatory damages, but not for punitive damages. See Domino Oil, Inc. v. Phoenix Assurance Co., Civ. No.1996-099, slip. op. at 2-3 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Aug. 18, 1998) [“Domino II ”]. I agreed with Attorney Rohn that “application of [Restatement (Second) of Conflicts ] section 193 puts further emphasis on the location of risk and swings the balance in favor of application of Virgin Islands law,” and reversed my dismissal of all but the punitive damages claim. However, while the complaint survives the motion to dismiss generally, the punitive damages claim does not. Because of the submissions to the Court outside of the pleadings the Court can properly consider the motion to dismiss a motion for summary judgment and will do so for the limited purpose of the punitive damages claim. See id. at 2-3. The petitioners criticize this decision and claim that my “bias towards [Attorney Rohn] is so deep-seated that the patent inconsistency in my findings eludes [me].” (See Pet. at 20-21 n. 15.) This criticism is completely irrational. As previously explained, Attorney Rohn was not Domino’s counsel when I issued my first decision, and my modification of these “findings” in Domino II actually benefitted her client by reinstating most of the complaint. Far from “reflecting] [my] obvious bias and antipathy” toward Attorney Rohn, (see id. at 4 n. 8), my decision in Domino II reveals that I resolve her motions on the merits. Domino moved for partial reconsideration of my reinstatement of the complaint, arguing that I erred in striking its claim for punitive damages, and that I should have afforded advance warning of my decision to treat Phoenix’s motion to dismiss as one for summary judgment. (See Pl.’s Mot., Sept. 1, 1998.) I rejected these arguments in a third previously unpublished opinion, reproduced in part below: Domino’s primary claim to error is its inability to obtain sufficient discovery on its bad-faith claim due to the entry of a protective order more than a year before Phoenix filed its motion to dismiss. The record shows, however, that Domino had more than ample opportunity to conduct discovery to oppose defendant’s motion. Domino had Phoenix’s responses to its twenty six interrogatories, ten of which applied specifically to the allegations of fraud. Additionally, Phoenix deposed Dru McCarthy, Phoenix’s 30(b)(6) witness, and Michael Donnelly, the claims adjuster before the protective order was entered. One of the grounds for Domino’s Motion for Additional Extension of Time to Respond to the motion to dismiss,[] was a request for more time to digest the 30(b)(6) deposition as “it is extremely long, with exhibits comprising approximately seven hundred fifty (750) pages.” Further, Domino’s filings in this case are fact-intensive, to say the least. Finally, plaintiff chose not to file a Rule 56(f) motion.[] The Court finds no support for Domino’s contention that discovery has been “very limited ” and “extremely curtailed” (Motion at 10). On the contrary, plaintiff had ample opportunity to properly defend against the motion, or to advise the Court of its inability to do so without more time through Rule 56(f). Domino’s suggestion that the Court was required to give notice that the motion to dismiss would be treated as one for partial summary judgment is totally without merit. First, Domino itself referred numerous times in the pleadings to the motion as a motion for summary judgment.[] Moreover, plaintiff presented many matters outside the pleadings to the Court. [] Domino Oil, Inc. v. Phoenix Assurance Co., Civ. No.1996-099, slip. op. at 1-4 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Dec. 21, 1998) [“Domino III”]. The petitioners’ motion omits and distorts parts of this opinion in a brief “hit and run” footnote, also reproduced below. Reasonable observers would not rely on this selective and misleading summary of my most recent written decision in the Domino Oil, Inc. case as evidence of judicial bias against Attorney Rohn. While I did not rule in Domino’s favor, adverse judicial decisions are not grounds for recusal. See, e.g., Johnson, 629 F.2d at 291. Lastly, Domino’s President, César Cortés García [“García”], avers that I “imposed sanctions in [this] case without notice and a hearing.” (See Pet., Ex. 7.) This is an utter falsehood. I did not impose sanctions against Garcia, Domino, or Attorney Rohn. I conducted a hearing on Phoenix’s motion to dismiss and fully considered Domino’s opposition before dismissing its complaint. See Domino II, slip. op. at 1. I reject petitioner Garcia’s subjective and false affidavit as evidence of my lack of impartiality. See Sciarra, 851 F.2d at 625; see also In the Matter of Searches Conducted on March 5, 1980, 497 F.Supp. 1283, 1287 (E.D.Wis.1980) (noting that the judge “is not constrained to accept the conclusions or opinions of the affiant and may consider the facts alleged in their proper context,” even under 28 U.S.C. § 144); United States v. Corr, 434 F.Supp. 408, 413 (S.D.N.Y.1977) (commenting that recusal based on affiant-litigant’s subjective beliefs would allow parties to disqualify judges at will). 10. Saldana v. Kmart Last December, I imposed monetary and non-monetary sanctions on Attorney Rohn “based on her habit of using the word ‘f**k’ to routinely express[ ] her displeasure or disagreement ... [during] judicial proceedings,” as well as calling a defense “expert witness a ‘Nazi’ in writing” in a District Court case after she had won it. See Saldana, 84 F.Supp.2.d at 637, 640. The petitioners claim that this sanctions ruling “demonstrates [a] lack of impartiality, and evinces such a virulent personal bias toward counsel ... as to justify blanket disqualification of the judge in all of Attorney Rohn’s cases.” (Pet. at 22.) Although the full opinion imposing sanctions upon Attorney Rohn is published, I repeat pertinent portions of my opinion and order in rebuttal of this claim. A dispassionate and objective review reveals that the sanctions I imposed were measured and appropriate for the misconduct, that the sanctions evince no personal prejudice or bias against Attorney Rohn, and that this decision would not cause a reasonable, well-informed observer to question my impartiality. I approached the distasteful task of weighing Kmart’s motion for sanctions with equanimity. During the sanctions hearing, I stated: “I applaud your representation, your efforts Attorney Rohn to get these words out of your vocabulary.” (Tr., Civ. No.1995-090, at 50 (D.V.I. St. Croix Div. Oct. 28, 1997).) Later, I specifically recognized her continuing efforts: To her credit, Attorney Rohn acknowledged at the hearing that her conduct was not appropriate behavior for a member of the Bar and promised to work on removing the use of the word f**k from her vocabulary. To her further credit, no one has submitted any subsequent instances of Attorney Rohn’s use of profanity during depositions or communications with other counsel during the all too extended length of time the Court has had this motion under consideration. To some extent, then, the delay in the Court’s decision has been to Attorney Rohn’s benefit as the sanction that would have been imposed at the time of the hearing would have been more severe and has been tempered in light of Attorney Rohn’s apparent success at cleaning up her vocabulary. ... The task is also distasteful because Rohn is otherwise a very talented and successful trial attorney who has no need to engage in such behavior. Saldana, 84 F.Supp.2d at 640. Contrary to the petitioners’ subjective and selective assertions, my decision in Saldana does not support a claim of personal antagonism or hostility toward Attorney Rohn, Marie Saldana, or any of the other petitioners. The petitioners contend that I “eschewed the requirements of due process ... to sanction Attorney Rohn.” (See Pet’rs’ Reply, Apr. 3, 2000, at 8.) The record does not support this conclusion. See Saldana, 84 F.Supp.2d at 640 n. 19. Attorney Rohn was aware of the rule under which the Court might impose sanctions. Kmart informed" Attorney Rohn that it sought sanctions against her for “ ‘violating the fundamental precepts of legal ethics.’ ” (See Def.’s Mot. for Sanctions, May 16, 1997, at 1 (quoting In re Tutu Wells, 31 V.I. 175, 181 (D.V.I.1994)).) Kmart invoked Local Rule of Civil Procedure 83.2, which authorizes the Court to investigate misconduct, and to admonish, suspend, or disbar District Court attorneys “for good cause shown ... after notice and opportunity to be heard.” See LRCi 83.2(b)(4)(A). Moreover, the petitioners themselves argue that I was “required to follow the mandate of Local Rule 83.2.” (See Pet. at 25.) My decision expressly relied on this rule: In her capacity as a practicing member of the Bar of the District Court of the Virgin Islands, Attorney Rohn must abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct of the American Bar Association [“ABA”]. See LRCi 83.2(a)(1). If Attorney Rohn fails to follow these Rules, she is subject to disbarment, suspension from practice before this Court, reprimand, or subject to such other disciplinary action as the circumstances may warrant. See LRCi 83.2(b)(4)(A). See Saldana, 84 F.Supp.2d at 639. Further, in response to a question posed by opposing counsel, Attorney Rohn testified that she knew before the hearing on Kmart’s motion for sanctions that she could be suspended or disbarred: Q: Attorney Rohn, in your letter ... you did state that if your office wants to attack me then you should not expect accommodation? A: Yes. You were t'rying to take my license to practice law away. (See Tr., Oct. 28, 1997, at 46 (emphasis added).) Yet the petitioners maintain that I made a “gross misstatement of the record” when I declared in Saldana that Rohn clearly was aware of the possible range of sanctions that the Court could impose. Her counsel argued in favor of an admonishment, while Attorney Rohn herself acknowledged the possibility of suspension or disbarment. (Hearing Tr. at 31, 36 (Oct. 28, 1997)) (“[Counsel for Kmart] asked that my license to practice law be suspended for 6 months if not revoked.... ”). (See Pet’rs’ Reply, Apr. 3, 2000, at 11, 10 (quoting Saldana, 84 F.Supp.2d at 640 n. 19).) The statements that I am accused of grossly misstating in my opinion appear in the record; only my page references were incorrect. Attorney Rohn’s counsel at the hearing did argue in favor of an admonishment as follows: However, as I said at the beginning, Your Honor, I believe that this is not an appropriate case for an imposition of a sanction per se. To the extent this Court might wish to admonish this type of behavior that is one thing, but I believe given the record here, the very skimpy record, I believe anything else wouldn’t be appropriate. THE COURT: I don’t know how skimpy the record is.... (See Tr., Oct. 28, 1997, at 37.) Attorney Rohn did testify that opposing counsel had “asked that my license to practice law be suspended for six months if not revoked.” (See id. at 42, 46-47.) My Saldana opinion thus did not misrepresent the record, and the petitioners’ contention that it did is the quintessence of desperation and overreaching. The petitioners also complain that I “improperly considered evidence from other cases and improperly weighed evidence, to sanction Attorney Rohn.” (See Pet’rs’ Reply, Apr. 3, 2000, at 8.) They assert that Attorney Rohn and her counsel had no inkling that I might consider her alleged misconduct and use of expletives or gutter language in other District Court cases in determining whether her conduct in the Saldana case warranted sanctions. (See id. at 7-10.) My scheduling order did state that the sanctions hearing would “be limited solely to the issue of Attorney Rohn’s behavior in this case.” (See Order, Aug. 17, 1997.) At the beginning of the hearing, however, I clarified this order for Kmart’s counsel: THE COURT: That’s what I was afraid of. 'My earlier remarks — I’m not — I don’t mean to limit the scope of the hearing. We’re talking about what attorney Rohn has done in the district court. [COUNSEL FOR KMART]: But not limited to this case. THE COURT: Not the facts of this particular case. What I’m talking about, I’m not interested in hearing what other attorneys do. (See Tr., Oct. 28, 1997, at 7.) Attorney Rohn’s counsel understood the scope of the hearing: [COUNSEL FOR ROHN]: - Excuse me, I hate to object. I thought that Your Honor was — had restricted this to district court matters. [COUNSEL FOR KMART]: I stand corrected. (See id. at 9.) The petitioners omitted this portion of the transcript from them reply pleading. (See Pet’rs’ Reply, Apr. 3, 2000, at 7-10.) When Attorney Rohn’s counsel subsequently claimed to be confused by the scheduling order, I reiterated the scope of the hearing: [COUNSEL FOR ROHN]: Your Hon- or, may I ask, at this point I must confess that I am now confused by your ruling. Am I to understand that these other alleged acts in other district court matters are going to form a part of this hearing? Because if so I would like to render my strongest objection. I understand that we were limiting the inquiry to what had occurred within the four corners of this case, not what may or may not have happened [in other district court cases]. THE COURT: No. That’s not my ruling. What I had intended to convey, and obviously I didn’t do it very well at the outset, is that I’m not interested in what other attorneys may — how they may conduct themselves. But it seem to me from what I read, and the motion and the opposition, and the reply, if there’s anything to this it would amount to a pattern of conduct on attorney Rohn’s part. [COUNSEL FOR ROHN]: Well, Your Honor, if that is Your Honor’s wish I would have to request — Well, number one, I would of course object to the record. But number two, I would then ask for the opportunity then to present evidence to Your Honor concerning the circumstances and background of all of these other so called district court matters. For example, you know Williams v. Rene, attorney Rohn herself was never admonished. There was never conduct that Ms. Rohn did that she was admonished for. I think that’s the issues that have been brought up. THE COURT: Then you can do that. [COUNSEL FOR ROHN]: All right. (See Tr., Oct. 28, 1997, at 9-10.) After further discussion, the parties fully and thoroughly examined Attorney Rohn’s misconduct in other district court cases as alleged in Kmart’s pleadings and countered by Attorney Rohn in her previously-filed opposition. As I have shown, Attorney Rohn and her counsel knew the scope of the hearing, and were aware of the severity of the potential sanctions. To the extent my scheduling order may have caused any confusion, I specifically gave Attorney Rohn and her counsel every opportunity to respond to Kmart’s allegations through testimony, other evidence, and oral argument. Attorney Rohn and her counsel availed themselves of that opportunity at the hearing, and never sought to file any additional testimony, evidence, or argument. The petitioners also contend that I failed to abide by Local Rule of Civil Procedure 83.2 in imposing sanctions upon Attorney Rohn. (See Pet. at 28.) As previously mentioned, Local Rule 83.2 authorizes a judge of the District Court of the Virgin Islands to punish misconduct “for good cause shown ... after notice and opportunity to be heard.” See LRCi 83.2(b)(4)(A). I followed this procedure. It was neither necessary nor appropriate to initiate a separate bar association disciplinary proceeding for conduct which occurred in District Court cases, largely on the record. See id. 83.2(b)(5)(A) (creating inquest procedure for instances where “the applicable procedure is not otherwise mandated”). I did not violate Attorney Rohn’s due process rights, deliberately or otherwise. Next, the petitioners assert that media coverage of the Saldana decision “generated grave concern from the public as to counsel’s ability to obtain fair rulings,” (see Pet. at 39), and led “members of the public who were not clients of Attorney Rohn” to write responsive editorials “on their o[w]n volition,” (see Pet. at 21). The allegation falls of its own weight. Only one of the scant news articles submitted by the petitioners criticized the Saldana decision. (See Pet., Ex. 29.) Although the editorialist in question is the son of one of Attorney Rohn’s clients, (see Pet., Ex. 30), the petitioners portray him as a