Posted on 12/03/2001 2:11:08 PM PST by hut1hut2
Edited on 09/03/2002 4:49:36 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
A judge accused of making suggestive remarks to female prosecutors, kissing two of them and using his chambers for sex was ordered removed from the bench today.
Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Oliver M. Spurlock violated the state Code of Judicial Conduct and must be removed within 30 days, the Illinois Courts Commission said in its 4-2 decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
You might even say he was a stain on the robe.
I'm confused....
Huh? Executive office ok?
What X42 really proved -- beyond any doubt -- is that the US Congress has no standards.
A judge accused of making suggestive remarks to female prosecutors, kissing two of them and using his chambers for sex was ordered removed from the bench today.
Cook County Circuit Court Associate Judge Oliver M. Spurlock violated the state Code of Judicial Conduct and must be removed within 30 days, the Illinois Courts Commission said in its 4-2 decision.
"His conduct was offensive to those individuals and an embarrassment to the robe," the panel said. It said many character witnesses had praised Spurlock, but "his own behavior paints a picture of someone lacking both the dignity and character to hold judicial office." Respondent's use of chambers as a venue to satisfy his sexual desires was more than ill-advised and embarrassing," the commission said.
Spurlock admitted twice using his chambers as a place for sexual trysts with a court reporter but denied claims that he made suggestive remarks to or grabbed and kissed female assistant state's attorneys.
He told the commission in June that the four female prosecutors had conspired against him because they didn't like his rulings in narcotics cases.
Spurlock attorney Theresa M. Gronkiewicz said, however, that the decision marks the end of Spurlock's efforts to hang onto his office.
"The courts commission's decision is final," she said. "Regretfully, he accepts the decision. There's not much more he can do."
Accusations against the divorced judge first surfaced in 1998 when he was sitting at the Criminal Courts Building on Chicago's West Side.
Four female assistant state's attorneys said he "commented on their clothing and bodies in suggestive ways," the commission said. It said he asked them out for dinner and drinks and wanted their telephone numbers.
"He demonstrated his appreciation for their appearance by kissing his fingertips" while ignoring their refusals, the commission said.
In one case, the panel said, he asked an assistant state's attorney into his chambers, grabbed her, wrapped his arms around her, rubbed her back, said that "her husband wasn't taking care of her" and kissed her on the mouth.
"When she pushed him away and said she was married, he commented that they could talk about it over drinks and dinner," the panel said.
While Spurlock denied that any of those things happened, the commission said it believed the four women and corroborating witnesses.
The panel said he did not violate the code of conduct — issued by the state Supreme Court — when he entered into a romantic relationship with a young clerical worker for the state's attorney's office who sometimes sat at the prosecution table in domestic violence hearings.
But it said that by doing so he "displayed a lack of sensitivity to the potential for conflict and the appearance of impropriety."
And it said that he went over the line when he used his chambers as a sexual meeting place with a female court reporter. He at first denied the allegation, then "grudgingly" admitted it, the panel said.
"His testimony and demeanor suggested, however, that ... he came to regret and be embarrassed about the conduct only because it was discovered," the commission added.
Supreme Court Justice Mary Ann McMorrow, the commission's chairwoman, said in her dissenting opinion that she believed Spurlock had broken the rules but suggested a 12-month suspension rather than removing him from office.
Who does this Illinois Courts Commission think they are forcing their Christian morality on this poor man!!!!!
No doubt they too are a part of the V.ast R.ight W.ing C.onspiracy.
Adds a new wrinkle to "Here come da judge", n'cest pas?
But personal conduct doesn't matter. CNN said so during the Klinton impeachment.
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