Suspension Proposed For Judge Who Sexually Harassed Employee: Drafted Recommendation Letter That Said She Was “Sexy As Hell”
The Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission has proposed a censure and suspension of 60 days without pay of a probate judge who had sexually harassed his judicial secretary over a three-year period from 2012 to 2015.
The misconduct consisted of, among other things, a series of text messages where he complained about the state of his marriage and unaccepted invites to a Rihanna/Eminem concert and to travel to “exotic locations for court-related conferences” where they would share accomodations.
He showed her a “sexually suggestive Youtube video of a high-priced lingerie website Agent Provocateur.”
He also drafted a letter of recommendation on her behalf that advised potential employers that she was “sexy as hell.”
That language was deleted at the secretary’s request.
The judge self-reported the misconduct to the commission after reaching a civil settlement with the secretary.
Matt Durr at MichiganLive reported the story
Between 2012 and 2015, Iddings sent after-hours text messages to the woman about his marital problems and personal feelings, invited the woman to accompany him to court-related conferences where they would share a hotel room and shared a video with her about a lingerie website.
…the secretary filed a complaint against Iddings and in June a settlement was agreed upon and the secretary received an undisclosed amount of money. At that time Iddings then self-reported himself the judiciary committee for review.
The commission also recommends that the judge take a course in Texas called Maintaining Proper Boundaries.
Details from Lenconnect’s David Panian.
The Peninsula had the story in October 2016 of the judge’s reappointment by Governor Snyder to the Commission on Community Action and Economic Opportunity
The CCAEO is a 12-member commission created to reduce the causes, conditions and effects of statewide poverty in Michigan. The CCAEO also promotes social and economic opportunities in Michigan, and seeks to enable self-sufficiency for lower-income residents in the state.
“I thank Judge Iddings for his continued service on this commission and I am confident he will provide thoughtful input to assist low-income Michiganders,” Snyder said.
(Mike Frisch)