U.S. district Judge Samuel Kent is the first federal judge to be indicted on charges of federal sex crimes. Yet, he’s only the latest in a string of judges to face misconduct allegations in 2008, for behavior that includes frequenting a topless club or lying under oath.

The Houston Chronicle reports that, “nationwide, four other federal judges are being investigated for, among other things, taking cash from lawyers, using an escort service, posting nude photos on a personal Web site and abusing power in court.”

The onslaught of federal disciplinary activity seems unprecedented under the modern review system, established by Congress in 1980, according to experts and official court statistics.

Kent, who served on the Galveston bench for 17 years before his transfer to Houston last year, is the only federal judge to face an ongoing public criminal investigation.

Kent has been indicted but pleaded not guilty to charges he improperly touched a female court employee and made an attempt to force her to perform an oral sex act.

Four other federal judges in California, Colorado and Louisiana are confronting the judicial disciplinary review in various stages.

Nonetheless, two judges in Colorado and the 9^th circuit in California face judicial conduct inquiries but defend their behavior as part of their private lives.

According to the Chronicle, “U.S. District Judge Thomas Nottingham, of Denver, acknowledged he spent $3,000 in a two-night binge at a topless dance club and used a high-priced escort service. But he defended those actions, part of misconduct complaints, as ‘private and personal matters involving human frailties and foibles.’”

Alex Kozinski, the 9^th circuit’s chief judge in California, admitted in June that his personal Web site contained off-color videos and photos, including one of two naked women depicted as cows. The judge claimed he mistakenly assumed that this particular part of his site was not available to the public.

To read the entire article from the Houston Chronicle, link here:

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Comments (5)

Comment	smaller | bigger
Name
Write the displayed characters
Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.
	Add Comment