Judge orders Boeing, DOJ to detail diversity policy before deciding on plea [Video]

A federal judge on Tuesday ordered Boeing and the U.S. Justice Department to detail the impact of diversity and inclusion policies on the selection of an independent monitor before he decides whether to accept the planemaker’s plea deal.

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor held a hearing Friday as he considers whether to approve Boeing’s agreement to plead guilty to conspiring to defraud regulators. The deal would include oversight for three years by an independent monitor.

The order is the latest hurdle Boeing faces to avoid a potentially embarrassing trial and plead guilty to misleading the Federal Aviation Administration and violating a 2021 deferred prosecution agreement.

O’Connor on Tuesday told DOJ and Boeing to answer questions by Oct. 25 about the DOJ policy of selecting a monitor in keeping with the government’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.

A DOJ spokesperson said the government “will comply with the judge’s order and respond before the court’s deadline.” Boeing did not immediately comment.

While ordering …