Disgraced federal judge Samuel Kent has informed President Obama that he will resign in June 2010. Judge Kent, who is set to report to prison on June 15, admitted forcing sex acts upon his former secretary and case manager and was sentenced to 33 months in prison. Sentencing Law & Policy notes that the House Judiciary Committee has placed a lot of interesting material online detailing the judge's misconduct. From the New York Times:
A convicted federal judge told the president Tuesday he would resign from the bench in June 2010, nearly a year after he enters prison for lying about sexually abusing two assistants.
U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent would draw a full salary of $174,000 a year and benefits until the resignation takes effect, said his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin. Kent decided on the delay so his wife, who has a brain tumor and other serious medical problems, could retain health benefits, DeGuerin said.
Kent, 59, is resigning to try and avoid the ''spectacle'' of an impeachment process by Congress, DeGuerin said. The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, and both women he victimized are scheduled to speak.
''Judge Kent's own actions continue to prove that he is unworthy of public service,'' said U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, the ranking Republican on the committee. ''This is an outrageous abuse of authority and defies the very principles of justice Judge Kent swore to uphold.''
According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, there is no procedure to reject a federal judge's resignation notice. The only way a federal judge can be removed is through impeachment.
U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent would draw a full salary of $174,000 a year and benefits until the resignation takes effect, said his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin. Kent decided on the delay so his wife, who has a brain tumor and other serious medical problems, could retain health benefits, DeGuerin said.
Kent, 59, is resigning to try and avoid the ''spectacle'' of an impeachment process by Congress, DeGuerin said. The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wednesday, and both women he victimized are scheduled to speak.
''Judge Kent's own actions continue to prove that he is unworthy of public service,'' said U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith, R-San Antonio, the ranking Republican on the committee. ''This is an outrageous abuse of authority and defies the very principles of justice Judge Kent swore to uphold.''
According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, there is no procedure to reject a federal judge's resignation notice. The only way a federal judge can be removed is through impeachment.
Meanwhile, Congress is preparing to move forward with impeachment proceedings. Above the Law and Jonathan Turley have more.
Recent Comments