Judge Nix Quits

Cobb County Ga. Chief Judge Kenneth  Nix was reported by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to have abruptly announced his resignation the other day.  The way it was reported you suspected that there was more to the story, this AM correspondent Debra Cassens Weiss at the ABAJournal collects and reports all the accounts.  It turns out that Judge Nix, was being, um....inappropriate.  Here's the ABAJournal summary:

"Judge Kenneth Nix announced Tuesday that he will retire on Oct. 4, the day of his 71st birthday, according to stories by the Fulton County Daily Report, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Marietta Daily Journal. Nix told the Marietta Daily Journal in an earlier story that, after the photo shoot with the two women, he 'flicked them both on the fanny.' The newspaper published the lap photo.

'That was a stupid, stupid mistake,' Nix told the Marietta Daily Journal. 'I don't think that's sexual harassment. I think it's stupid of me to do it. It may be improper touching, but it's not to be such that you know I should be whatever.'

The women, Assistant District Attorney Susan Treadaway and deputy investigator Glenda Roberts, said in a statement that what happened during the photo shoot was 'more serious than reported,' the Marietta Daily Journal says. The women said they had visited Nix’s office to say good-bye to him after a courtroom reassignment.

'The judge asked us to sit on his knee just like he does to other female attorneys every Christmas when he is wearing his Santa Claus suit. He is a 70-year-old man and even though we both were reluctant to grant his request, it is sometimes difficult to say no to a grandfatherly figure and it would have been awkward. What happened later was a crime when he inappropriately touched us. What occurred was more serious than was reported.'

Nix told the Fulton County Daily Report that he is resigning to avoid an investigation into his conduct. According to the story, 'He said he also feared an exploration into possibly other issues that could embarrass him and his family.'  District Attorney Patrick Head and the two women say they did not file an ethics complaint against the judge or take any legal action. Head said Nix’s retirement is 'disturbing' and he is 'a well-respected jurist and has served with distinction for many years.'

The vice-chair of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, Judge John Allen of Muscogee County Superior Court, echoed that assessment. 'I've known Ken for many years,' he told the Fulton County Daily Report. 'He is one of the finest judges and persons I've ever had the privilege of knowing. His retirement will be a loss to the public.'"
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This is bullshit.  The apologists for Nix, and Nix's minimization of his sexual harassment of the public servants under his authority enrages me.  Women attorneys, women in the workplace do not deserve to be treated this way.  This guy was pulling this bullshit for years.  Good riddance.

The Horny Law Enforcement Officers of Clackamas County, Oregon

Rick Bella at the Oregonian has a comprehensive and jaw-dropping report on the many law enforcement officers, mostly corrections officers from Clackamas County, Oregon who have been caught in sexual misconduct allegations and scandals dating back over several years. 

Clackamas County, Oregon is where Oregon City is located.  Clackamas is part of the greater-Portland area.  It is named after the indigenous Clackamas Indian tribe. 

This is from Bella's report:

Over the past decade, county corrections deputies have been convicted of sexual and official misconduct, drug abuse and assault, resulting in jail sentences, firings and civil lawsuits against the sheriff's office.  The most recent investigation began in July 2009, when allegations surfaced that Deputy Alan Dean Randol had sexual contact with female inmates on home detention. Randol pleaded guilty in October to sexual misconduct and was sentenced to eight days in jail.

A woman who says Randol fondled her during a home visit subsequently filed a $400,000 lawsuit against Clackamas County. The lawsuit remains pending in Clackamas County Circuit Court.

During the investigation into Randol, Detective Debbie Calhoun discovered similar allegations against Deputy Darin L. Fox, involving female inmates both housed in the jail and under electronic monitoring in their homes. After a grand jury indicted Fox on charges of sexual and official misconduct, Fox voluntarily surrendered at the jail last week. He is scheduled to be arraigned June 10.
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According to a sidebar at the link, 11 corrections and patrol officers have been involved in prohibited if not illegal sexual misconduct, including sexual exploitation of teenagers in the law enforcement cadet program.

The question is why?  Is this an unusual problem in Clackamas County, Oregon only?  Doubtful.  Perhaps what is happening in Clackamas County is structural in onset and astonishing because the current leadership is willing to confront the problem headlong, to their credit.  The real question is, what's happening elsewhere--including in your community, that is not being addressed by law enforcement leadership? 

Official Oppression: Judge Jackson Off to the Slammer

Ariana Venegas was charged with drunk driving in Harris County, Texas (Houston) according to the reports in the Houston Chronicle. 

On Monday, Criminal Court Judge Donald Jackson (pic, left) was given 30 days in the slammer for attempting to seduce the defendant in exchange for obtaining a favorable disposition on her matter.  They call this crime "official oppression." 

This sordid matter is covered comprehensively at the Houston Chronicle website (see link) with video of the Judge, victim and lawyers. 

I handled a matter years ago involving a barfly who was accosted by a newly-elected municipal court judge who had been a "family law" practioner.  This asshole Judge was notorious for cruising the local divorce court looking to prey on women in the throes of divorce, custody, and child support woes.  While Judge HotPants was still a practicing attorney, he met my client in at a TGIFridays (we will leave for another time a discussion of where one should and should not solicit clients)  agreeing to represent her.  When she was unable to pay his fee, he demanded sex.  As you might imagine this did not end well for his judicial career.