New Judge Named in Consent Decree Suit
WC Monitor
10/17/2014
U.S. Judge Fred Van Sickle has recused himself from continuing to hear the Hanford consent decree case and Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson has been assigned. Van Sickle, who was the judge in the case when it was filed by the state in 2008, notified Eastern Washington District U.S. Court earlier this week that another judge should be assigned. Van Sickle now has senior status and no longer carries a full caseload. The consent decree has returned to court after the Department of Energy and the state of Washington could not agree on amendments setting revised deadlines for storing and treating Hanford tank waste. Peterson previously has handled some Hanford-related cases, handing down sentences to some former workers who pleaded guilty to charges related to the fraudulent use of Hanford purchase cards.
