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Eugene

(61,974 posts)
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 10:17 AM Dec 2017

Federal appeals judge announces immediate retirement amid investigation prompted by accusations of s

Source: Washington Post

By Matt Zapotosky December 18 at 9:28 AM

Alex Kozinski, the powerful judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit who was facing a judicial investigation over allegations that he subjected 15 women to inappropriate sexual behavior, announced Monday he would retire effective immediately.

In a statement provided by his lawyer, Kozinski apologized, saying he “had a broad sense of humor and a candid way of speaking to both male and female law clerks alike,” and “In doing so, I may not have been mindful enough of the special challenges and pressures that women face in the workplace.”

“It grieves me to learn that I caused any of my clerks to feel uncomfortable; this was never my intent,” he said.

Kozinski, 67, said while family and friends had urged him to stay on, “at least long enough to defend myself,” he “cannot be an effective judge and simultaneously fight this battle.”

-snip-


Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/12/18/federal-appeals-judge-announces-immediate-retirement-amid-investigation-prompted-by-multiple-accusations-of-sexual-misconduct/



Full headline: Federal appeals judge announces immediate retirement amid investigation prompted by accusations of sexual misconduct

EDIT: article updated at link

17 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Federal appeals judge announces immediate retirement amid investigation prompted by accusations of s (Original Post) Eugene Dec 2017 OP
"Never my intent." 3catwoman3 Dec 2017 #1
sleazebag needs to be investigated, not just be allowed to retire and go away without consequence onetexan Dec 2017 #14
This Is Not To Defend RobinA Dec 2017 #15
Appointed by Reagan. n/t eggplant Dec 2017 #2
Just what I wanted to know, thank you for saving me the Google. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2017 #3
It was in the story. Demit Dec 2017 #5
If one doesn't hit a paywall. Retired, fixed income. Thanks again. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2017 #7
Private browser window. Free. n/t Demit Dec 2017 #10
Thank you again. n/t rzemanfl Dec 2017 #11
Mind Blown Dave Starsky Dec 2017 #16
Thanks for that info. louis c Dec 2017 #4
It grieves me that I got caught harassing my clerks." There, fixed it. yellowcanine Dec 2017 #6
Hit the road and take your lame apology with you. nt oasis Dec 2017 #8
Powerful libertarian conservative. I'd say it's Hortensis Dec 2017 #9
slowly but surely some of the bad judges are leaving dixiegrrrrl Dec 2017 #12
Hope you're right. Honestly, I'd much rather lose a Hortensis Dec 2017 #13
it certainly WAS his intent Skittles Dec 2017 #17

3catwoman3

(24,083 posts)
1. "Never my intent."
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 10:26 AM
Dec 2017

Who in their right minds wouldn't think that making your subordinates watch porn with you would make them feel uncoomfortable?

onetexan

(13,073 posts)
14. sleazebag needs to be investigated, not just be allowed to retire and go away without consequence
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 07:06 AM
Dec 2017

for his despicable actions

RobinA

(9,898 posts)
15. This Is Not To Defend
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 09:05 AM
Dec 2017

this type of behavior, but I honestly think that many of these serial gropers (I'm not talking nonconsensual sex dudes) don't think for a minute that the women might be uncomfortable. They are so entrenched in their own way of looking at things that it never occurs to them that someone might possibly feel differently. In this case, he likes porn, so everybody must. Then, of course, he and his ilk missed the lesson that porn/groping/lewd comments don't belong in the workplace, no matter who likes it.

yellowcanine

(35,703 posts)
6. It grieves me that I got caught harassing my clerks." There, fixed it.
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 12:04 PM
Dec 2017

“It grieves me to learn that I caused any of my clerks to feel uncomfortable; this was never my intent,” he said.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
9. Powerful libertarian conservative. I'd say it's
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 12:22 PM
Dec 2017

an excellent time to get him off the bench, when billionaires are using libertarian "ideology" to justify their massive wealth theft and attacks on democracy. He apparently considers environmental laws unconstitutional because they conflict with personal property ownership rights.

But what will take his place and when?

If he didn't resign, he could only be removed by act of Congress. I notice that back in 2008 when he posted sexually explicit material on his website. Haven't looked for it, but he admitted it was inappropriate.

dixiegrrrrl

(60,010 posts)
12. slowly but surely some of the bad judges are leaving
Mon Dec 18, 2017, 07:02 PM
Dec 2017

and some of the worst candidates are withdrawing their names because of blowback.
3 of Trump's picks have withdrawn for that reason, including the moron who made the news the other day for his idiotic responses to panel questions.
Trump's name is becoming toxic.....hooray.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
13. Hope you're right. Honestly, I'd much rather lose a
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 06:31 AM
Dec 2017

judge who consistently found against women's rights, for religious reasons for instance, to one who just grabbed his clerks' fannies.

Anyone whose name is being given to Trump to nominate these days for sure has the "wrong stuff" to be a judge, or he wouldn't be on that list. So, they lost some for ignorance, but they'll have others who also met their criteria to advance.

Rachel said last night that the stability and integrity of the judiciary has been looked at biggest and best check we've got on what congress and the donor class are up to, and now 9th Circuit Judge Kozinski's "just doesn't happen" resignation is such a huge break in norms that it's "resonating like an earthquake" in judicial circles. Kozinski's behavior is apparently so bad it makes me wonder if he had a stroke or something, but still. Lifetime appointment to independent branch or not, removable only by act of congress, he's gone just like some congressman who won't be finishing out his first term. How long before Fox targets some liberal judge for national outrage?

Skittles

(153,243 posts)
17. it certainly WAS his intent
Tue Dec 19, 2017, 05:41 PM
Dec 2017

THAT'S WHY THEY DO IT - they get boners off of the discomfort of their victims.......they're PERVERTS

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