Playing Hooky

The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct has reprimanded a general sessions court judge who had appeared on a county school’s Instagram page in judicial robes declaring his intent “to really crack down on truancy problems” in the school district.

He had a specific remedy that 

every unexcused school absence that a kid has in school they are going to do seven hours of community service at our local recycling center.

He went on to describe Friday nights there as a “highly unpleasent experience” and further indicated that a truant’s parents might get 10 days of jail time.

The board found that the posts violated a number of provisions of the Rules of Judicial Conduct.

The judge took full responsibility and offered no excuses. (Mike Frisch)