Kansas- For the first time since 1989, the Kansas Supreme Court has removed a county judge from office.

Saline County District Judge George R. Robertson, 56, was relieved of his black robe for viewing visiting pornographic web sites on the computer in his judicial chambers.

The Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications had recommended that the court remove Robertson, a judge for the past 10 years for violating judicial canons against impropriety and demeaning the integrity and impartiality of the court.

Robertson, a judge for the past 10 years, had been on administrative leave since June. According to the court’s ruling, Robertson violated an administrative order when, over an extended period of time, he frequently used the county-owned computer located in his office at the Saline County Courthouse to access and display sexually explicit images, messages, and materials. http://www.kscourts.org/kscases/supct/2005/20051007/94647.htm

In December 2004, Brad Bowers, Director of Computer Technology for Saline County, discovered through use of an application called Symantec Web Security that adult websites were being visited by Robertson on county-owned equipment utilized by the Judicial Branch in Judge Robertson’s office at the Saline County Courthouse during the time period referenced. That information was relayed to county officials.

Robertson admitted that he started looking at adult websites on his office computer in early 2004, which practice continued until discovery by county officials.

Dave Wood, investigator for the Disciplinary Administrator’s Office and the Commission on Judicial Qualifications, reviewed the Symantec Web Security Access Report as well as the websites detailed and determined that Judge Robertson had visited numerous pornographic websites repeatedly to access sexually explicit images, messages, or materials.

At a May 25 hearing, Robertson testified that he knew his internet activity was inappropriate on several levels but that the pressures of his judicial position and his volunteer commitments at his church led him to continue the activity.

Robertson, a church elder, told the judicial panel that the adult web sites provided a diversion for him. He told the panel that his conduct was unobtrusive and did not directly involve anyone else.

In its unanimous decision, the court ruled that the most serious aggravating factor in the case “is the effect the misconduct had upon the integrity of and respect for the judiciary……Public trust is essential to an effective judiciary and one judge’s conduct may have a significant impact upon the public’s perception of the entire judicial system. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny”.

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius will appoint to fill the remainder of Robertson’s four year term which expires in January, 2009.

Florida- In Florida’s Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, Judge Brandt Downey is reportedly under investigation by the Judicial Qualifications Commission for several issues including allegedly using the computers in the Clearwater Courthouse to surf pornography on the Internet. He is also facing charges of sexual harassment.

Downey has been accused of using the computers in the Clearwater Courthouse to surf pornography on the Internet and is also facing charges of sexual harassment.

Downey took a two week leave of absence in late April and into May after Circuit Court Judge Dee Anna Farrell, administrative criminal judge, and Sixth Circuit Court chief judge David Demers met with Downey on April 26 and questioned him.