Judge and Prosecutor Admit Sexual Relationship
I wrote here about allegations that Douglas County Judge Grafton Biddle, age 57, had an "office romance" with Deputy District Attorney Laurie Steinman, age 29, who appeared regularly in his court. Judge Biddle resigned and disciplinary proceedings are pending. Both could face suspension or disbarment. The Rocky Mountain News reports they have admitted having a sexual relationship.
A Douglas County judge and a female prosecutor admitted having sex in his chambers, and on more than one occasion he slipped into the women's showers at the courthouse so they could be together.
Here's my question: What should be the outcome? My only thought is that they should both be treated the same. Steinman should not be able to use her age and gender as a reason for lesser punishment. I don't know that she will, but if she does, I hope the disciplinary committee doesn't fall for such a sexist argument. She was not a stenographer or a secretary or his employee. She was an employee of the State, charged with representing the People of Colorado to ensure that justice was done. I don't care if she was 29 or 24 or 50. She knew, just as Judge Biddle did, that what they were doing was wrong. My point: The punishment, whatever it is, should be the same, regardless of gender and seniority. Update: You can read the disciplinary complaint and all the lurid details here (pdf).
Comments
Submitted by Dennis (not verified) on Sat, 2007-09-08 11:35.
As far as did the judge let his sexual relationship affect his decisions: what do you think? Get real! Of course it did. I'll be this lady prosecutor was successful in winning a lot of cases. What a despicable case of justice for sale...
Submitted by anon (not verified) on Fri, 2007-06-22 15:24.
I say censor them. I bet that Ms. Chambers has affairs? What about Mr. Thomas, you think he had affairs, what about other DA's and what about other judges? The problem, as I see it, these 2 got caught....who F'ing cares! I am sure happy that our streets are safer now that these two sex fiends are being persecuted! HOLY CRAP folks, arrest the pedophiles and drug delears, child abusers, spouse abusers, rapists, LAW BREAKERS....again, I must say, wtf!
I would sure like to talk to the spouses to see if they were faithful for the duration of the marriage/relationship. I have often found that when there is infidelity it is not only as a result of the cheater but also the other spouse as well.
Submitted by CAF (not verified) on Wed, 2007-04-25 07:44.
Were any of them married? I've read office romance, not affair. Are we talking sexual harrasment or mutual consent. Am looking for more facts to form an opinion.
Submitted by ohwilleke (not verified) on Tue, 2007-04-24 09:38.
The real issue is not what should be done to the two of them. The real issue is whether the public should accept the ordinary presumption that the judge acted without bias in her cases.
Fortunately, in a great many cases, there is a jury and an appeal of right to provide a check on abuse by the judge, or a plea bargain reached before the judge sees the case that was not marred by any knowledge on the part of the defense lawyer of the relationship.
But, in cases where procedural rules were key, this has to cast doubt on hundreds of individual cases.
FWIW, I don't think disbarment is certain. The only guaranteed "death penalty" offense for lawyers is stealing from a trust account. But, this case certainly calls for more than a public admonition, and one would presume, the prosecutor should also lose her job.
Submitted by CC (not verified) on Tue, 2007-04-24 07:54.
Disbarrment for certain. This type of flouting can not be taken lightly.
