Tuesday, June 26, 2012

How not to practice law: if you are a judge, go ahead and preside over a criminal hearing in a case in which you are the victim

Once again let's add another incredible but true story to our long list of things you should NOT do if you want to continue to practice law.  As usual, this list involves conduct that is so basic you'd think anyone would know what they are doing is improper.  Nothing complicated here.  It would be funny, if it weren't so serious.... 

So here is today's entry:  a judge is the victim of a crime and then finds himself presiding over the hearing to set bond for the person accused of that crime.  Apparently it did not occur to the judge that it would be a good idea to let a different judge take over... 

Interestingly, the judge just got a reprimand, maybe because, after all, he allowed the defendant to be released without bond. The actual letter of reprimand is available here. The Legal Profession blog has more here.

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