Cites Problems In Selection Process For Independent Monitor

U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor rejected the plea deal reached between Boeing and the U.S. government after the company said it would plead guilty to deceiving the FAA ahead of two fatal crashes of its 737 MAX.

The judge cited issues he has with the selection process for the independent monitor required by the deal for oversight of safety and quality improvement at Boeing.

In July, Boeing had agreed to plead guilty to one charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. The plea agreement stipulated a fine of $487 million, far short of the $24.8 billion wanted by the families of the victims of the crashes.

Judge O’Connor specifically had problems with the idea that the Justice Department, and not the court, would be able to approve the selection of the monitor.

O’Connor wrote in his opinion, “It is fair to say the government’s attempt to ensure compliance has failed. At this point, the public interest requires the court to step in. Marginalizing the court in the selection and monitoring of the independent monitor as the plea agreement does undermines public confidence in Boeing’s probation.”

Judge O’Connor also had a problem with the Justice Department saying that Boeing would have to consider race when hiring the independent monitor, but he was also miffed that the court would not have a role in the selection.

FMI:  www.boeing.com/