KANSAS CITY, Kan. www.courthousenews.com – A district court judge appeared to be masturbating and used foul language during a divorce mediation, an attorney claims in Federal Court. The attorney claims Judge Kevin P. Moriarty’s [pictured] actions were so offensive even her estranged husband complained about it during their divorce trial.

Kimberly Ireland claims that while mediating, Judge Kevin P. Moriarty tried to discuss her underwear and her sex life, though neither was relevant to the divorce matter. And she claims that “Moriarty appeared to be masturbating during the mediation.”

Ireland says that Moriarty’s actions were so outrageous that her estranged husband Kevin testified about them at the divorce trial.

Ireland says she filed a complaint about Moriarty’s behavior on Oct. 3, 2007 with the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications.

In response to her complaint, she says, Moriarty launched his own investigation into her private life and discussed her with the judge presiding over her divorce case and with the opposing counsel.

Ireland claims Moriarty used his power to influence her divorce proceeding, to start an ethical investigation of her and to have court personnel write false letters to the commission attacking her and claiming that Moriarty did nothing wrong.

On Nov. 15, 2007, the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed an ethical complaint against Ireland, claiming she made false accusations about Moriarty, though it never conducted an investigation into her claims, according to her complaint.

Ireland said Attorney Edward Byrne, at Moriarty’s request, filed a complaint with the commission against her on Dec. 12, 2007.

Moriarty served as an investigator for the Kansas Disciplinary Administrator for 15 years and serves on the Tenth Judicial District Judicial Nominating Commission that appoints Johnson County District Court judges. The Johnson County Board of Commissioners is named as a defendant because it was put on notice of Moriarty’s actions, but allegedly took no action.

Ireland says she suffered loss of income, reputation, inconvenience, insult, mental distress, embarrassment, humiliation, anxiety and emotional pain and suffering as a result of Moriarty’s actions. She seeks punitive damages.