Denver Legal -- But Who Would Shatner Play?
In a story worthy of the writers of the popular TV program Boston Legal, the Rocky Mountain News reported that a judge and a deputy district attorney face discipline by the Supreme Court of Colorado, after the pair admitted to a clandestine relationship. The Complaint details the progress of the affair, as well the pair’s assorted denials of wrongful conduct and efforts to conceal the affair from their respective spouses and colleagues, undertaken simultaneously with such extraordinary risks as engaging in sexual relations in the courthouse showers and in the judge’s chambers. The latter “misuse of the judge’s chambers” led to the Complaint’s allegation that the pair “violated and degraded the sanctity of the courtroom.” Upon the affair being revealed to the Chief Judge by the judge’s fourth wife, the judge resigned, and the prosecutor was fired.
The judge heard at least two cases prosecuted by his lover, without disclosure of the relationship to defense counsel. One of the cases resulted in a conviction. No doubt this complaint will figure prominently in that defendant’s appeal.
Both judge and prosecutor have been charged with ethical violations for engaging in dishonest conduct and in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice. However, the judge, who was first admitted to the bar when his young lover was a toddler, escaped two counts laid against her. She also faces charges of knowingly assisting a judge in conduct violating judicial rules and failing to report a judge’s violation of judicial rules.
I suppose this is a nice change from the typical disciplinary complaint detailing how some poor unsuspecting client was screwed.
