ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 A federal district judge is in hot water after being caught in an extramarital affair with a law enforcement officer in the judge\u2019s chambers, according to court records obtained by News 6.<\/p>\n
A memo filed on Friday shows that a special committee for the Eleventh Circuit \u2014 which covers Florida, Georgia and Alabama \u2014 issued an order against the judge back in February, finding that the judge engaged in \u201cjudicial misconduct\u201d due to the following:<\/p>\n
Engaging in an extramarital affair with a high-ranking law enforcement officer and having sexual intercourse in the judge\u2019s chambers during business hours within hearing distance of staff<\/p>\n
Attending a partisan political event<\/p>\n
Making false statements to the Chief Circuit Judge and Chief District Judge that were material to the investigation of the allegations<\/p>\n
Court records reveal that complaints about the judge surfaced back in September, stemming from a law clerk who accused the judge of having sex with the officer multiple times prior in chambers during work hours \u2014 all within earshot of the judge\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n
While neither the judge nor the officer are explicitly named, records do reveal that the officer held a high rank in \u201ca certain police department.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe law clerk also reported that the subject judge failed to mentor the law clerks and edit their work, displayed visible anger to the law clerks, including yelling and cursing, and, on one occasion, told staff that the judge had \u2018too many martinis the night before\u2019 at an event for a District Attorney,\u201d the complaint reads.<\/p>\n
Shortly thereafter, the judge in question called the allegations \u201coutrageous\u201d and \u201cbaseless,\u201d implying that the clerk had made up the accusations in retaliation after being repeatedly chastised for performance issues, court records show.<\/p>\n
However, a special committee was formed to look into the issues, and it found that the judge\u2019s conduct surrounding the affair \u201cdemonstrated a gross lack of judgment,\u201d creating a troubling environment for the judge\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cMoreover, the special committee noted that the affair made the subject judge vulnerable to potential extortion or blackmail…\u201d the complaint continues. \u201cAs to the subject judge\u2019s attendance at a partisan political event, the special committee found that the subject judge knowingly attended an event hosted by a district attorney\u2019s campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the committee determined that the judge had made \u201cnumerous, material false statements\u201d when initially responding to the allegations, such as denying the sexual affair at the courthouse.<\/p>\n
As such, the committee suggested a private reprimand, and the judge agreed not to oppose the sanction, as well as write apology letters to the former law clerks and refrain from serving on any Judicial Conference committee.<\/p>\n
The special committee also decided against a more severe sanction due to the judge correcting the false statements and being unlikely to engage in similar misconduct in the future.<\/p>\n
You can read through the full memo below:<\/p>\n
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