Judge who overturned drilling bans had shares in the oil industry

Martin Feldman, who ruled against Barack Obama's moratorium, accused of conflict of interests

 guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 23 June 2010 12.51 BST

An oil worker's hat lies on a polluted Louisiana beach. The White House is to appeal against the lifting of the drilling ban. Photograph: Lee Celano/Reuters

The judge who overturned deepwater drilling bans allowing BP to resume oil extraction in the Gulf of Mexico, had shares in Transocean and other firms in the industry, it was revealed today.

Yesterday, a Louisiana-based judge Martin Feldman ruled that Barack Obama's six-month drilling moratorium in the Gulf was unjustified because it assumed that all deepwater drilling was as dangerous as BP's.

The White House promised an immediate appeal.

Meanwhile environmental groups have said Feldman's ruling may have to be rescinded because of the possible conflict of interests.