J. Michael Luttig - John Luttig's Murder

John Luttig's Murder

Luttig's father, John Luttig, was fatally shot in 1994 in a carjacking by juvenile offender Napoleon Beazley. Beazley was eventually executed after twice appealing to the Supreme Court, where Justices Antonin Scalia, David Souter, and Clarence Thomas recused themselves because of past associations with Luttig. Scalia recused himself because Luttig had clerked for him, and Justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas recused themselves because Luttig led the George H. W. Bush Administration's efforts to gain the Senate's confirmation for them.

Some have speculated whether this tragedy influenced Luttig's judging.