An Incident In Fells Point
The Maryland Supreme Court has accepted a consent discipline of a 20-day suspension without pay of a Baltimore district court judge.
All but five days were stayed.
The incident that led to the sanction involved a 911 call for a domestic matter in the Fells Point area and her interference with police as detailed in the charges
The investigation revealed sanctionable conduct by Judge Etheridge. The nature of the sanctionable conduct that is the subject of these charges includes confronting law enforcement to advance her personal interests while officers were addressing an unrelated domestic dispute; invoking her judicial title during the interaction with law enforcement; threatening to take future action against the officers as a result of the interaction and otherwise exhibiting antagonistic and confrontational behavior; failing to cooperate and be candid and honest with disciplinary authorities, to include disingenuously invoking the subsequent death of another judicial officer as justification for her behavior, failing to acknowledge her conduct or express remorse for the same, and making inconsistent statements regarding her conduct; failing to comply with the law; and otherwise engaging in behavior unbecoming a judicial officer and in direct contravention of her responsibility to promote confidence in the Judiciary and to maintain the dignity of judicial office.
The judge’s response to charges
Judge Etheridge’s mother’s home is near the restaurant of a family friend. Given the lateness of the hour, Judge Etheridge ascertained that the restaurant was still open, and sought a ride to her home. The judge’s friend drove Judge Etheridge to her home. The vehicle was not allowed pass into the one-way street leading to Judge Etheridge’s home, which was on a parallel one-way street, running in the opposite direction. The vehicle in which Judge Etheridge was riding did not have the appropriate sticker that would permit them to enter. Entry was denied despite Judge Etheridge providing proof of residency (Driver’s License).
Judge Etheridge was frustrated at not being able to gain entry. She saw flashing lights down the street, and thus, for safety reasons, elected to walk to her home on the street where the entry was denied as there was a police presence which made her feel more comfortable as she was now walking alone after midnight, with two tote bags. The area in which Judge Etheridge resides has, in recent years, been experiencing an uptick in both crimes of opportunity and crimes of violence; hence her concern. The distance to her home would be approximately the same had she walked down to her parallel street, one block down from the entry point.
While walking, she tripped and fell on the sidewalk. She was carrying a set of keys in her hand (for reasons of safety – to gain quick access to her home in the event of an emergency). When she tripped on the sidewalk and fell, one of the keys pierced her palm by about ¼ of an inch, causing a puncture wound, which bled profusely.
She also sustained injuries to her left leg, both knees, foot, and bruised chin. At the time a 1.5-liter unopened bottle of wine broke, spilling its contents all over her. This liquid went all over Judge Etheridge and permeated her clothing. Judge Etheridge continued home, cleaned off the blood, and made a makeshift bandage for her hand. After doing so, upset that the fall and thus the injuries had occurred, and feeling that would not have happened had the vehicle in which she was a passenger had been allowed admission into her neighborhood, she ventured back to the scene in the hopes of speaking with the officer and conveying her concern that residents should be allowed to enter if they show proof of residency, regardless of the vehicle they are in, so they are able to get to their homes safely. She saw the officers, and waited on the other side of the street until it appeared to her that they had either concluded, or had taken a break, in their investigation of the domestic dispute they had been engaged in resolving when she was first denied entry.
She now recognizes that her conduct regarding the police officers was inappropriate and improper. She had spent a frustrating evening trying to comfort her mother, which was compounded by the denial of entry to her neighborhood and her fall and subsequent injuries. It did not appear to her that the investigation was active at the time. She now realizes it was, and highly regrets any unintentional interference. She apologizes, and regrets the incident in its entirety.
(Mike Frisch)