The Knuckleheads of the Day award

Today's winners are the members of the Massachusetts Commission On Judicial Conduct. They are Robert J. Guttentag, William W. Teahan, Jr, Susan D. Ricci, Stephen E. Neel, William E. Bernstein, Gael Mahony, Christopher P. Geehern, and Mary Z. Connaughton. All but Geehern, Connaughton and Guttentag are judges or lawyers in MA. Don't matter, these knuckleheads get the award for their handling the case of Judge Robert F. Murray. This disreputable jurist sexually harassed two female Plymouth county employees. The judge was suspeneded without pay, so what do these eight commission members do? They give Murray a one year suspension without pay, fine him $50,000(The state paid out $250,000 to settle with the women) and even leave open that he can return to the bench after the suspension is over.

Another instance of the legal system of our being both broke and corrupt. These people think their gods, and can't be held accountable. Any of them and they protect their own. This is the third outrageous case at least in the last 2 months. Click here and here. And don't forget this one here in Palm Beach County, where a disgraced judge with a similiar record was being re-hired by the State Attorney's office. The people in this country see this conduct and criminals go free to rape and murder again or people face loss of their homes in direct contradiction of the constitution and they get fed up. A revolution will come one day and the judicial system in this country brought it on themselves. For bringing dishonor and corruption to the legal profession, Robert J. Guttentag, William W. Teahan, Jr, Susan D. Ricci, Stephen E. Neel, William E. Bernstein, Gael Mahony, Christopher P. Geehern, and Mary Z. Connaughton are today's knuckleheads of the day.

Hat tip- Wizbang

Open Post- Don Surber, Is it just me?,

The one-year slap-on-the-wrist suspension that will allow “love judge” Robert F. Murray to return to the bench after sexually harassing female underlings would never pass muster in the private sector, experts say.

“I don’t think this would fly in the private sector. Increasingly, the private sector is realizing that it has to have a much closer to zero tolerance for this type of conduct,” said Boston lawyer Inga Bernstein, a sexual harassment specialist.

The state Judicial Conduct Commission yesterday announced it had reached an agreement with Murray, 60, a Plymouth County Juvenile Court judge accused of sexually harassing two female workers last year.

As part of the one year unpaid suspension agreement with the JCC, Murray — who made a rare public apology — will also have to give up his accumulated vacation time and pay a $50,000 fine. He also can no longer serve in Plymouth County but is free to be reassigned to a different court afterward. The state paid the women and their lawyers a total of $250,000 to settle their civil claims Nov. 18.

Court clerk Michelle Goldberg and court officer Barbara Brawders alleged Murray made inappropriate telephone calls and engaged in unwanted touching at the Brockton courthouse where the three worked together last year.

In another instance, Brawders claimed Murray, his breath reeking of liquor, asked to speak to her in the jury deliberation room near his chambers and tried to kiss her once she entered, sources familiar with the allegations told the Herald.

Murray, in a statement released by the JCC, apologized and blamed “medical problems and personal difficulties.”

“I acknowledge and accept responsibility for my wrongful conduct. I am very sorry for the pain, anguish and apprehension I caused both court employees,” the statement said. “I am very sorry for the embarrassment and expense to the Trial Court, and I apologize to my judicial colleagues for what I have done.”