Federal Defense Attorney John Teakell

Recently, a federal judge in Texas found out for himself what it feels like to be on the other side of the bench. On August 28, 2008, United States District Judge Samuel Kent was indicted on charges of abusive sexual contact and attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a female employee, making him the first federal judge to ever be charged with federal sex crimes.

The federal criminal investigation was launched in November 2007 after Kent’s former case manager complained that the judge physically touched her in an inappropriate manner and often made obscene suggestions during the six years she worked for him.

Already Reprimanded
Kent had previously received a written reprimand in September 2007 for sexual harassment from the Federal 5th Circuit Court of Appeals because of a related judicial misconduct complaint filed by the victim. Although the judicial misconduct complaint was sealed, published news stories of Kent’s conduct eventually attracted the attention of federal prosecutors. Shortly after, several key leaders from the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary suggested that the victim should request a criminal investigation. This resulted in the FBI being called in to conduct an investigation into the allegations within the complaint. The findings of the investigation were then referred to prosecutors from the Department of Justice’s

Public Integrity Section based in Washington, D.C.
Accusations have also surfaced from a Justice Department investigation suggesting that Kent accepted, but failed to report, gifts and also sold his home in a deal arranged by a lawyer with dozens of cases in his court. This investigation has been confirmed to have taken place by Kent’s own attorney as well as other lawyers familiar with the case.

Kent will stay on the Bench for Now
Despite the criminal charges, attorneys for Judge Kent say their client has no intention of stepping down from the bench. U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who is a member of the judiciary committee, said the panel would monitor but “not interfere with the judicial proceedings at this time.” “We want to proceed on the principle that you are innocent until proven guilty,” she said. In the meantime, Kent has been reassigned and has been barred from handling criminal cases and sexual harassment lawsuits. So far, no trial date has been set in this case.

Kent’s colleagues also expressed their opinion that he should be allowed to stay on the bench until the trial. “The choice is his,” said U.S. District Judge Lynn Hughes, one of Kent’s judicial brethren in the Southern District of Texas. “After all, he’s presumed innocent. That’s how we work around here.”