The Broken Gavel Awards

Incorrigibles and other assorted knuckleheads seem to infiltrate all fields and occupations. A recent column in The Southeast Texas Record serves as a reminder that the judiciary is no less immune to such infiltration.

Whether its lying to investigators investigating sexual misconduct allegations, soliciting sexual favors in return for leniency, transporting prostitutes across state lines, tax evasion in kickback schemes, lying about neck and back injuries - and later abusing one's position on the bench - in order to cash in on roughly $440,000 in insurance payments following an auto accident, the columnist, Texas attorney John G. Browning, observes that "judges' recent foibles have demonstrated that they, too, are as prone to character flaws as the defendants appearing before them."

For the story, see Legally Speaking: The Broken Gavel Awards.