the first filed federal case in houston was assigned, is an appropriate choice to provide oversight of these cases. this isn t a rank and file case. this is a case involving a couple hundred cases involving the biggest oil disaster in the history of the country where we ought to be especially concerned about public confidence in the judiciary. reporter: cnn examined judge hughes rulings on oil and gas cases going back three years. in fact, he ruled in favor of oil companies just a little more often than he ruled against them. lawyers who know judge hughes tell cnn he s fair and tough, but environmental attorneys say even the request by bp to have this judge sit on the bench is, quote, outrageous and unseemly. abbie boudreau, cnn, atlanta. consolidating hundreds of lawsuits under a same judge is not unusual. faulty gas pedals, bp s specific
what your potential interests are. reporter: which brings us back to bp and why it would like judge hughes to oversee the oil spill lawsuits. bp told us quote bp believes that judge lynn hughes to whom the first filed ferd case in houston was assigned is an appropriate choice to provide oversight on these cases. this isn t a rank and file case. this is the biggest oil disaster in the history of the country where we ought to be especially concerned about public confidence in the judiciary. reporter: cnn examined his rulings on oil and gas cases going back three years and ruled in favor of energy companies just a little more often than against them. people who know him say he is fair and tough but environmental attorneys say even the request by bp to have this judge sit on the bench is quote outrachings and unseemly. abbie boudreau, cnn, atlanta.
that pays him royalties, but he didn t disclose that information at the hearing. the company ended up winning and was awarded $3.9 million. the best practice that s out there and i think what judges across the country are encouraged to do is when there is any doubt, put some sunshine on the problem. turn your cards face up, to mix metaphors and basically make it clear to the parties what your potential interests are. reporter: which brings us back to bp and why it would like judge hughes to oversee the oil spill lawsuits. bp told us, quote, bp believes that judge lynn hughes, to whom the first filed federal case in houston was assigned, is an appropriate choice to provide oversight of these cases. this isn t a rank and file case. this is a case involving a couple hundred cases involving the biggest oil disaster in the history of the country where we ought to be especially concerned about public confidence in the judiciary. reporter: cnn examined judge hughes rulings on oil and
at the hearing. the company ended up winning and was awarded $3.9 million. the best practice that s out there and i think what judges across the country are encouraged to do is when there is any doubt, put some sunshine on the problem. turn your cards face up, to mix metaphors and basically make it clear to the parties what your potential interests are. reporter: which brings us back to bp and why it would like judge hughes to oversee the oil spill lawsuits. bp told us, quote, bp believes that judge lynn hughes, to whom the first filed federal case in houston was assigned, is an appropriate choice to provide oversight of these cases. this isn t a rank and file case. this is a case involving a couple hundred cases involving the biggest oil disaster in the history of the country where we ought to be especially concerned about public confidence in the judiciary. reporter: cnn examined judge hughes rulings on oil and gas cases going back three years.