Alabama judge removed for calling another judge 'Uncle Tom,' numerous other ethics violations

Jefferson County Judge Nakita Blocton also called another judge a 'fat b****' and an employee a 'heifer'

 

By Danielle Wallace

An Alabama judge was removed from the bench for committing several substantial ethics violations, including referring to another judge as an "Uncle Tom," a derogatory term meant to describe a Black person who is overly allegiant to White people. 

Jefferson County Judge Nakita Blocton, who is herself Black, "engaged in a pattern and practice of making inappropriate comments – for example, calling one judge ‘Uncle Tom" and another judge a ‘fat b****’ and calling an employee a heifer," according to the findings of a commission that filed a complaint against the judge for various ethics violations.  

The commission also found that Blocton engaged in a pattern of abuse of staff, attorneys and litigants that included referring to one employee as a "heifer" and verbally abusing and belittling another employee. 

The judge ordered her employees to allow her to see their private cellphones and provide their private log-in credentials on work computers in an effort to delete material relevant to the investigation into her conduct. She also made her employees work unreasonable hours, including excessive, unproductive and unnecessary late night, according to the commission. 

Jefferson County Judge Nakita Blocton was removed from the bench over several ethical violations.  (Tenth Judicial Circuit Court of Alabama )

Although "she spent a substantial amount of time in her office," Blocton failed to promptly dispose of many cases assigned to her and was unable to remedy a backlog of cases. 

Blocton allegedly made an attorney beg her not to fire an employee who had spoken with a litigant about the harm she had suffered due to the delay in solving the litigant's case.

One of two judges assigned to handle Blocton’s backlog in February acknowledged the "appalling" amount of cases left pending for an inappropriate amount of time without resolution as the other said such delays "gave a black-eye" to the judicial system.

Blocton also used several Facebook aliases to communicate with litigants in pending domestic-relations cases in an effort to affect the outcome of those cases, according to the commission. 

She also engaged in "a pattern of dishonesty and deception" by using the aliases to provide information to litigants in cases and asking potential witnesses to delete evidence related to the commission’s investigation and attempting to influence testimony.

According to an initial complaint made against the judge in May, one person involved in divorce litigation said the judge used online aliases to send several threatening messages which included, "THE DEVIL IS WATCHING U," "LEAVE THOSE BLACK WOMEN DEMOCRATS ALONE." 

The commission failed to gather enough evidence to support other allegations against Brocton, including that the judge was using drugs, was mentally unstable and made an inappropriate campaign contribution to a Birmingham mayoral candidate. 

All nine judges on the Alabama Court of the Judiciary acted on Dec. 10. to remove Blocton from the bench and ordered her to pay the costs of their proceeding. 

"We were trying to keep her on the bench, and we were disappointed they removed her from the bench," Blocton’s attorney, Emory Anthony, told Above The Law.

Full Article & Source:

Alabama judge removed for calling another judge 'Uncle Tom,' numerous other ethics violations 

 

See Also: 

‘I was being a parent’: Birmingham woman alleges unfair treatment, threats from benched judge 

 

Jefferson County judge removed from bench for behavior

Jefferson County judge removed from bench for behavior

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama judge who handles domestic relations cases has been removed from office after being accused of inappropriate behavior.

 

The Alabama Court of the Judiciary on Friday issued the order removing Nakita Blocton from her position as a circuit judge in Jefferson County.

The panel said Blocton made derogatory comments about staff and other judges and used fake social media accounts to communicate with people in a case.

The court ruled Blocton had demonstrated a pattern of inappropriate behavior and comments as well as a pattern of deception and dishonesty.

Blocton’s attorney, Emory Anthony, told a local news outlet Friday that Blocton could choose to appeal the ruling.

Full Article & Source:

Jefferson County judge removed from bench for behavior

Leticia Astacio found not guilty of felony gun charge

Defense attorney Mark Foti called it a "satisfying result" after his client, Leticia Astacio, was acquitted on a felony weapons charge Friday. Meaghan M. McDermott

An Onondaga County jury found former Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio not guilty of attempted criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon, a felony.

Former City Court Judge
Leticia Astacio has filed
paperwork to run for a City
Council seat.
(Photo: Staff image)

Astacio was arrested and charged in April 2018 after being accused of trying to purchase a shotgun at Dick's Sporting Goods in Henrietta.

The jury began its deliberations Thursday and reached a verdict Friday afternoon.

Prosecutors said her probation terms prohibited her from trying to purchase a weapon. Her attorney, Mark Foti, argued that "dangerous weapon" is a highly ambiguous phrase. He asked the jury to use critical thinking and common sense when determining if an unloaded shotgun can be a dangerous weapon.

The law required evidence that Astacio got close to purchasing the gun, Foti said. He argued that she never reached that point, because she never submitted or signed paperwork and she never started payment.

The jury was made up of 10 men and two women.

Astacio began to sob as the jury was polled individually for their verdicts. She declined comment leaving court, but Foti said having this case pending for the past year "has been an extraordinary weight and what you saw was that weight being lifted off her shoulders."

In both his opening statement and closing argument, Foti called the case one of governmental overreach. "What they were trying to do was prosecute somebody who didn't even fill out paperwork," he said.

Foti always contended that his client would be cleared.

"From the very beginning, we insisted that ultimately those charges would be dismissed one way or another, whether it was by a judge or a jury," Foti said Friday. "The jury did the right thing. This is a satisfying result."

He said Astacio intends to continue her bid for a seat on City Council and to continue her legal career. If convicted, Astacio would have lost her license to practice law in New York.

Both Foti and special prosecutor Mark Sinkiewicz, interim district attorney in Seneca County, said Astacio received a fair trial.

"The citizens of Monroe County are entitled to closure," Sinkiewicz said. "This provides that, not in the way we anticipated. The court of public opinion is obviously vastly different than the court of law. ... I feel like we presented every ounce of evidence available to us."

The jury submitted additional questions to acting state Supreme Court Justice Gordon Cuffy Friday afternoon. He told them that they wound need to determine if, beyond a reasonable doubt, Astacio had been "dangerously close to" or "very near completion" of purchasing the shotgun at the Dick's in Henrietta.

On Thursday, Cuffy dismissed one juror, and replaced him with an alternate. The juror appeared to be falling asleep during the attorneys' summations; this was the second time this week he was accused of sleeping.

Another juror was dismissed Tuesday after acknowledging that she had watched a brief segment on television news about the Astacio trial.

The criminal case of Astacio, who last year was removed from the Rochester City Court bench, was moved to Onondaga County after appellate judges determined the ample local media coverage made a fair trial unlikely in Monroe County.

Astacio remains on probation following her drunken driving conviction, which stems from a February 2016 incident on Interstate 490 in Rochester. That criminal conviction, coupled with allegations that she tried to influence police during the arrest and did not abide by her post-arrest mandates, were key to the decision of state officials and judges to remove her from the bench.

According to state law, a lawyer convicted of a felony is automatically disbarred. Her political career could have been in jeopardy. On Monday, Astacio filed paperwork to run for a City Council seat representing the northwest side of Rochester.

She submitted petitions to be included on the ballot in the Democratic primary on June 25. Those signatures could still be challenged.

Felons are not barred from running for public office in New York, but they must have served their sentence to completion prior to election.

Full Article & Source:
Leticia Astacio found not guilty of felony gun charge

See Also:
Judge sets trial date in Astacio case

Judge Astacio officially removed from bench, NYS Court of Appeal decides

Editorial: Astacio Case Shows Need to Reform How New York Disciplines Judges

NY Judge Arrested, Led From Courthouse in Handcuffs

Judge Astacio Arrested, Sent to Jail Until Thursday's Hearing

Judge sets trial date in Astacio case

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WHEC) - A judge has denied a motion to reconsider the felony case against former Rochester City Court Judge Leticia Astacio.

Astacio is facing a felony gun charge after she allegedly tried to illegally buy a gun from Dick's Sporting Goods in Henrietta back in April. She's banned from owning a gun because she's on probation for her DWI conviction.

Astacio's attorney, Mark Foti, argues an unloaded shotgun is not a dangerous weapon, and her Second Amendment rights were violated.

The prosecutor argues it will be up to the jury to determine that based on the facts he plans on presenting to them during the trial, which is now scheduled for April 1.

The case was moved to Onondaga County over concerns she could not get a fair trial in Monroe County.

Astacio was officially removed from the bench in October. If convicted, the former judge could be disbarred and no longer be able to practice law.

Full Article & Source:
Judge sets trial date in Astacio case

See Also:
Judge Astacio officially removed from bench, NYS Court of Appeal decides 

Editorial: Astacio Case Shows Need to Reform How New York Disciplines Judges

NY Judge Arrested, Led From Courthouse in Handcuffs

Judge Astacio Arrested, Sent to Jail Until Thursday's Hearing

Judge Astacio officially removed from bench, NYS Court of Appeal decides

Judge Leticia Astacio is officially no longer a judge.

Tuesday morning, the New York State Court of Appeals, the highest court in the state, denied Astacio's appeal to remain a judge.

The decision was unanimous which means all seven justices felt Judge Astacio should be removed as a judge.

Click here to read the decision.

Judge Astacio has been officially suspended with pay since April. Rochester City Court judges make $187,200. Astacio has not heard a single case in a courtroom since her DWI arrest in February 2016.

The Court of Appeals heard Astacio's case in September because she appealed the ruling of the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct which decided she should be removed from the bench. The Commission's decision came down in the spring after a lengthy, confidential investigation into Judge Astacio.

On April 25, the Commission decided Astacio should be removed because she was convicted of DWI in 2016, tried to use her position as a judge to get out of trouble and violated the terms of her DWI sentence at least twice.

The Commission also decided to remove Astacio based on several instances that happened while she was hearing cases in Rochester City Court.

In one case, the Commission said Judge Astacio made fun of a victim of sexual assault. In another case, the Commission said Judge Astacio told a court deputy to physically hurt a defendant.

At a news conference in April, the administrator of the Commission, Robert Tembeckjian, outlined the charges against Judge Astacio.

Charge 1: Her DWI conviction.

Charge 2: She used her office as a judge at the time of her arrest "in an attempt to evade the consequences of her arrest," Tembeckjian said.

Charge 3: Violating her DWI sentence.

Charge 4: The fact that she arraigned a former client when she was a judge, and said, "I totally love him. I'm so sad he's in jail right now."

Charge 5: She made undignified comments in four cases as a judge, including one about a victim in a sex abuse case, "repeating a remark made by an attorney that the alleged victim had 'buyer's remorse.'" Tembeckjian said. "And later saying she thought it was 'freakin' hilarious.'"

Tembeckjian also accused Astacio of telling court deputies to physically harm an unruly defendant. "For example," Tembeckjian said. "Telling officers they should tase or 'shoot' or 'punch' an allegedly (inaudible) defendant in the 'face.'"

Astacio is facing a felony gun charge. She was indicted Sept. 11 on the charge of attempted criminal purchase or disposal of a weapon.

Just prior to the Commission's decision to remove her as a judge, Astacio was arrested for trying to buy a shotgun at several Dick's Sporting Goods stores.

As per New York State law, a conviction of a felony automatically leads to disbarment, which is the removal of a lawyer from a bar association or the practice of law.

The 7^th Judicial District Administrative Judge Craig  Doran released the following statement regarding the decision to remove Judge Astacio:

"For more than 2.5 years, one matter has dominated much of the public’s attention and conversation regarding our court system. During this time, hundreds of judges and staff have come to work each day, ready to deliver justice in thousands of cases involving many of the most challenging issues facing our neighborhoods, schools and businesses.

This unfortunate distraction has not hindered the critically important work done on a daily basis, by the highly competent and caring judges, and dedicated court staff serving the people of this community.

We are grateful for the honor to serve the Judiciary, and we invite the public to continue their interest in the courts and focus upon the extraordinary work done in our courthouses every day- upholding the law and assuring that justice prevails."

Click here to see the note News10NBC found on Astacio's door Tuesday morning.

Full Article & Source:
Judge Astacio officially removed from bench, NYS Court of Appeal decides

South Florida Judge Ordered to Immediately Step Down From Bench

Judge Dana Marie Santino

The Florida Supreme Court Monday ordered Palm Beach County Court Judge Dana Marie Santino off the bench, giving her hours to leave office. Its July 2 ruling removed the embattled judge from the bench, effective 5 p.m. that day.

The Palm Beach County judge has been battling to keep her seat, since the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission panel filed a notice of formal charges against Santino in light of unsavory tactics employed against Gregg Lerman, her political opponent during the 2016 election.

In September 2017, the JQC recommended the judge’s removal, alleging Santino aimed “to win at all costs” and “pay the fine later.”

Santino was alleged to have paid consultants to create an array of campaign material for her, including a Facebook page titled “Taxpayers for Public Integrity.”


“Attorney Gregg Lerman has made a lot of money trying to free Palm Beach County’s worst criminals. Now he’s running for judge!” read one of the Facebook pages.

Accompanying text went on to link criminal defense lawyer Lerman with identity theft, rape, child pornography, drug trafficking and murder.

Santino was also featured in an October 2016 interview with Fred Hadley of the Village Sentry, where she said, “I find it hard to believe [Lerman] can go into the courtroom and be impartial and identify with the victim of a crime or the prosecution’s side of the case.”

Santino at the time admitted to “making mistakes” during the election, but denied that any of her actions violated Florida law, insisting she was fit to remain on the bench.

Neither the judge nor her attorney, Jeremy Kroll of Bogenschutz Dutko & Kroll, responded to requests for comment by deadline. But Kroll had asked the high court, which has the final word on judicial discipline, to reject the JQC’s recommendation.

“Judge Santino deeply regrets the campaign violations that underlie this proceeding and will take no steps in this pleading to justify or minimize them,” he wrote on the judge’s response to the high court’s Sept. 28 order to show cause. “Respondent, however, demonstrates good cause why the hearing panel’s legal conclusions and recommendations should not be approved by this court.”

A divided Supreme Court denied the judge’s request.

Justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis, Peggy A. Quince and Jorge Labarga were in the majority, while Chief Justice Charles Canady and Justices Ricky Polston and C. Alan Lawson dissented.

The high court accepted the recommendation by Sumter Circuit Judge Michelle T. Morley, who wrote last September on behalf of the state judicial panel recommending Santino’s ouster.

“We do not make this recommendation of removal lightly, or without due consideration of its severity. We are mindful of — and heavy-hearted about — the testimony of Judge Santino’s witnesses that she is beloved by many, and a judge with a strong work ethic,” Morley wrote in the findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations of the hearing panel. “However, were we to countenance her studied and continued refusal to abide by Canon 7, we would ourselves be undermining the rules governing judicial elections.”

It is not known whether administrators received any warning of the decision, so the fate of Santino’s caseload was unclear at press  time.

Santino had practiced law for 16 years before running for office.

Full Article & Source:
South Florida Judge Ordered to Immediately Step Down From Bench

See Also:
Judge removed over campaign misconduct

Palm Beach County judge removed over campaign misconduct 

Cook County Judge Removed From Bench Amid Federal Fraud Charges

Judge Jessica Arong O’Brien

CHICAGO (CBS) — A highly regarded Cook County judge has been removed from hearing cases after being charged by federal authorities with fraud for providing false information to obtain loans for properties on the South Side.

Judge Jessica Arong O’Brien, 49, was charged last week with one count of mail fraud affecting a financial institution, and one count of bank fraud, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office in Chicago.

On Wednesday, Chief Judge Timothy Evans announced that O’Brien has been “reassigned to administrative duties in the office of the Presiding Judge of the First Municipal District, Judge E. Kenneth Wright Jr.” The action followed a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Circuit Court of Cook County on Tuesday.

Administrative duties can include performing marriage ceremonies and reviewing petitions for reduced court-filing fees for indigent parties, a statement from Evans’ office said. The action is effective immediately and until further notice.

“The committee is aware that a federal grand jury indicted Judge O’Brien on April 12, and she is accused of fraudulently obtaining loans related to the purchase, maintenance and sale of properties in Chicago,” the statement said. “That same day, on April 12, Judge Wright reassigned Judge O’Brien to administrative duties until the Executive Committee could consider the matter.”

Evans said last week that he was unable to comment further on the matter, citing Supreme Court Rule 63, which states, “A judge should abstain from public comment about a pending or impending proceeding in any court…”

The alleged crimes occurred before O’Brien was elected the first female Filipino-American judge in the Circuit Court of Cook County in 2012.

Federal prosecutors allege O’Brien got lenders to provide loans “by making false representations and concealing material facts in documents submitted to the lenders.” An attorney at the time, she used the loans to buy and refinance about $1.4 million in mortgage and commercial loans, including the purchase of an investment property in the 600 block of West 54th Street in the Back of the Yards, prosecutors said.  (Click to Continue)

Full Article & Source:
Cook County Judge Removed From Bench Amid Federal Fraud Charges

2 Philly judges removed from bench for ethics violations

Two more Philadelphia judges have been kicked off the bench, the latest development in an FBI probe of judicial corruption here.

The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline ruled on Friday that Municipal Court Judge Dawn Segal and Common Pleas Court Judge Angeles Roca be removed from office for their involvement in separate case-fixing schemes.

Lawyers for both judges say they are appealing the decisions to the state Supreme Court.

In October, the disciplinary court found that Roca had unethically intervened in a tax case involving her son by calling then-Municipal Court Judge Joseph Waters Jr., who reached out to Segal, who then reversed herself and issued a ruling favorable to Roca's son.

Waters was sentenced in January 2015 to two years in prison for fixing cases on behalf of campaign donors and political allies. He was released about a month ago.

In July, the court found Segal guilty of seven violations of judicial ethics rules, including bringing the court into disrepute.

"I got something in front of you at 1 o'clock today," Waters told Segal in an intercepted 2011 phone conversation in which he asked for favorable treatment of a politically connected defendant appearing before her.

"Oh, OK. OK," Segal responded, according to the disciplinary panel.

Wiretaps also captured Segal telling Waters she had helped him with her rulings.

In Segal's case, the court acknowledged that Segal had been approached by Waters, "a corrupt judge."

 And, the court said, Roca at first had only sought advice from Waters before the conversation extended to intervening in her son's case. But neither judge stood up to Waters, the court said.

"As we have said in more detail in prior decisions, when it comes to corrupt acts and the derogation of a fair and just judicial process, a judge must have 'the willingness to stand up for what was right and buck a corrupt tide,'" the court wrote in both rulings.

Roca and Segal, both Democrats, had been on unpaid suspension. If the rulings stand, they would be ineligible to hold judicial office in the future.

"I'm very disturbed by the decision," Roca's attorney, Samuel Stretton, said Tuesday.

Stretton said he was appealing the ruling because the disciplinary court ignored case law and treated Roca's and Segal's cases too similarly.

Segal's lawyer, Stuart Haimowitz, said he also is appealing.

"Judge Segal expected to be sanctioned for what she did. We hoped and expected the Court of Judicial Discipline to have considered Judge Segal's actual conduct and its own precedent when it imposed its sanction," Haimowitz said in a statement Tuesday. "Instead, it appears it took a 'get rid of them all' approach. In so doing, the citizens of Philadelphia County lost a good judge."

Stretton and Haimowitz had sought suspensions for the judges.

In addition to Waters, who pleaded guilty to mail and wire fraud, Municipal Court Judge Joseph O'Neill pleaded guilty in May to federal charges connected to the judicial case-fixing scandal.

O'Neill admitted he lied to FBI agents who were investigating special treatment he gave to a Democratic fund-raiser in 2011, at Waters' request.

"He's a friend of mine, so if you can, take a hard look at it," Waters told O'Neill in a conversation caught on an FBI wiretap.

"No problem," O'Neill replied.

Full Article & Source:
2 Philly judges removed from bench for ethics violations

Lancaster City District Judge Kelly Ballentine removed from bench

 By JEFF HAWKES and BRETT HAMBRIGHT 

Kelly Ballentine

A Lancaster city district judge suspended for dismissing her own traffic tickets  and failing to file tax returns has been removed from the bench.

Pennsylvania's Court of Judicial Discipline, in a 5-3 ruling, filed an order Tuesday that removes Magisterial District Judge Kelly Ballentine from her Locust Street office.

She held the post in the city's southeast quadrant since January 2006.

"Judge Ballentine has failed to conduct herself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary," President Judge Timothy F. McCune wrote for the majority.

McCune added, "The hypocrisy inherent in judging others for tax violations while she herself was committing those same violations certainly contributes to causing disrepute."

"The cumulative effect of all this misconduct over a period of years mandates a severe sanction," he wrote.

Ballentine's attorney, Samuel C. Stretton of West Chester, called the ruling "awfully harsh and wrong" and said Ballentine will appeal to the state Supreme Court, which must take the case.

"I'm not saying she should do these things. Don't get me wrong," Stretton said. "But the offenses were relatively minor. I don't think it warranted removal. We have suggested a suspension of several months without pay."

He said Ballentine was "very disappointed, surprised and shocked" by the decision.

Ballentine becomes the 13th Pennsylvania magisterial district judge removed from office since the creation of the Court of Judicial Discipline in 1993, according to Robert A. Graci, chief counsel of the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania.

Removal "appropriate"

Lancaster County President Judge Dennis Reinaker, who oversees the county's district judges, called the removal "entirely appropriate."

"Her behavior represents a personal shortcoming and is, in no way, a reflection of the honorable service of the women and men who so ably serve our county as judges," Reinaker said Wednesday.
Ballentine was in the midst of her second six-year term, to run through 2018.

Senior district judges have been presiding over Ballentine's cases since she was suspended in February.

Ballentine pleaded guilty in February 2013 to three misdemeanors for entering the magisterial district judge's computer system and dismissing three of her own traffic tickets between Dec. 29, 2010 and Jan. 27, 2011.

She paid a fine, was placed on probation and was suspended from her duties for 16 months before returning to the bench in June 2013 on probation.

While under probation, she heard cases until February 2015.

Unpaid sales taxes

The Court of Judicial Discipline said Ballentine also engaged in judicial misconduct when she failed to file sales tax returns from 2009 to 2012 while she owned Walk-In-Style Fashion Footwear, 356 N. Queen St.

Because her store didn't sell many shoes, she failed to submit only about $130 in sale taxes during those years, according to the court opinion.

The state Revenue Department revoked Ballentine's business license in January 2012, but in September 2012 the state cited her for operating the business without a license.

For that summary offense, she was found guilty in October 2013 of a summary offense, and she paid $369.45 in fines and costs.

A Judicial Conduct Board inquiry then found that Ballentine failed to submit timely individual federal and state tax returns for five years — from 2009 through 2013.

Although she failed to file tax forms, Ballentine did pay taxes during those year through paycheck withholding.

"I saw no disrepute here in terms of the judge not filing her taxes when she did pay her taxes," said Stretton, Ballentine's attorney. "And there was never any complaint about her conduct on the bench."

Dissent issued

In a dissenting opinion, Judge Charles A. Clement Jr. wrote that Ballentine ran "an orderly and proper court while administering justice fairly."

"Judge Ballentine's conduct might be described as negligent or reckless," said Clement, adding tha the "ultimate sanction" of removal from office "is more properly reserved for intentional misconduct."

Clement said voters should have the final say.

Separately, a state House committee in June unanimously supported investigating Ballentine for possible impeachment. The bill moved to the full House.

State Rep. Bryan Cutler of Quarryville led the charge for an investigation.

Full Article & Source: 
Lancaster City District Judge Kelly Ballentine removed from bench

See Also:
District Judge Kelly Ballentine suspended without pay for failing to file taxes

Pennsylvania District Judge Kelly Ballentine Suspended From Practicing as an Attorney, But Continues to Sit on the Bench  

Former Nevada judge, ousted in rare judicial disciplinary spectacle in 2008, dead in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS — A former Nevada state court judge whose courtroom misconduct, disciplinary suspension, domestic turmoil and eventual removal from the bench in November 2008 became a rare public spectacle has died in Las Vegas at age 56.

Elizabeth LaMacchia, who was Elizabeth Halverson when she was elected and sworn in to a newly created judicial post in January 2007, died March 1, according to a Southern Nevada Health District death certificate. District spokeswoman Jennifer Sizemore said she could release no other information.

Attempts to reach LaMacchia's relatives Friday in San Francisco and Oakland, California, were unsuccessful.

As a Clark County District Court judge, Halverson served fewer than five turmoil-filled months before she was suspended with her $130,000-per-year salary. Eighteen more months of accusations and public hearings followed before she was removed from her elected position by the state Commission on Judicial Discipline and banned from ever serving again as a judge. By then, she had filed for re-election.

Halverson, who once served as a law clerk for the chief judge with whom she later clashed, blamed the allegations against her on vindictive colleagues and disgruntled staff. She told the commission that she didn't feel safe in the courthouse.

She was accused of falling asleep during proceedings, tainting juries resulting in at least two mistrials, treating staff members like personal servants and making false statements.

Full Article & Source: 
Former Nevada judge ousted in rare judicial disciplinary spectacle in 2008 dead in Las Vegas

Lokuta sues former judges over removal from bench

Deposed former Luzerne County Judge Ann H. Lokuta, silent for more than 15 months after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected her appeal, re-emerged with a vengeance Wednesday, firing a federal civil rights lawsuit at the colleagues and officials she said conspired to oust her from the bench.

Lokuta, the first woman to sit on the Luzerne County bench, filed the lawsuit in an attempt to reverse a state judicial discipline panel's ruling four years ago that removed her from office, stripped her state-funded medical benefits, life insurance and vested pension, and precluded her from holding future judicial office. Lokuta, 59, also asked for unspecified monetary damages.

Lokuta and her attorneys, George A. Michak and Ronald V. Santora, reiterated in the lawsuit her long-held contention that former county president Judges Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan orchestrated her removal because she cooperated with federal investigators probing their pocketing of $2.8 million in payoffs from the backers of a pair of for-profit detention centers.

Lokuta claimed the former judges testified against her before the state Court of Judicial Discipline to punish her for continuing to speak to federal agents. The former judges, she said, used their influence over courthouse personnel to persuade more than two dozen other witnesses to substantiate allegations Lokuta showed up late for court, berated attorneys and court staff members and misappropriated county resources.

"Lokuta was subject to relentless intimidation and retaliation by (Conahan and Ciavarella), particularly Conahan, as they controlled the Luzerne County Courthouse as their private domain and crushed anyone who failed to follow their directives," the lawsuit said.

Full Article & Source:
Lokuta sues former judges over removal from bench

See Also:
Lokuta's Last Shot at Reinstatement