Bill > S2529

This bill is a communication from the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court regarding the Honorable Thomas Estes. The key provisions are as follows: The court has accepted the stipulation of facts that Judge Estes had an undisclosed sexual relationship with a clinician member of the drug court team over which he presided. The court has determined that Judge Estes' conduct constituted willful judicial misconduct that brings the judicial office into disrepute, as well as conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice and unbecoming a judicial officer, in violation of various provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. While the court considered mitigating factors, including Judge Estes' expressions of remorse and positive judicial performance evaluations, the court concluded that the seriousness and numerous nature of the violations, which implicated fundamental principles of integrity, impartiality, and respect for the judicial office, warranted a severe sanction. As such, the court has publicly censured Judge Estes and suspended him without pay indefinitely or until further order of the court.

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/S2529