Case Scenario: A Judge's Relations
A judge in Chicago was charged with violating ethics rules for having sex in his chambers with a court reporter. Apparently, a physical relationship took place in the office, and the judge and court reporter had sex on multiple occasions during workdays. The judge argued in his defense that there is no rule specifying that consensual relations with another adult in the privacy of his chambers are prohibited.
It was charged that the sexual relationship with the court reporter "created an atmosphere of impropriety and is not in keeping with the dignity of a judicial officer," although no state rule has been found that addresses or prohibits consensual sex by a judge in his office.
The judge was also charged with forcing kisses on two ADAs, repeatedly asking female prosecutors for dates and commenting on their appearances. But these charges were separate from the judge's challenge of his having consensual sex with a court reporter in his chambers.
- Assess the moral permissibility of the judge's conduct using the three major ethical perspectives.