Connecticut judge suspended for late response
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September 10, 2012
New Haven, Connecticut: A New Haven Superior Court judge has been suspended for his failure to respond to a legal motion in a timely manner.[1]
Judge William Holden was suspended for 20 working days for failing to respond to a legal motion for two years by the Connecticut Judicial Review Council, who voted unanimously for his suspension.[1]
The charges against Judge William Holden arose from a letter of complaint written by a man named Christopher Shaw. Shaw was convicted in 2008 by Judge Holden for sexual assault.[1]
When Shaw's attorney filed a motion for articulation in June of 2009, Judge Holden did not respond until July of 2011, delaying Shaw's appeal, who is currently serving a 15-year prison term.[2]
Council Chairman of the Connecticut Judicial Review Council, Wayne Keeney, stated that Judge Holden, "admitted to all three violations of the judicial canon of ethics."[2]
Keeney also went on to say, "This disposition is the result of a very careful, conscientious deliberation by the council. We took into consideration the seriousness of the matter and Judge Holden’s fine character and reputation."[2]
Judge Holden's attorney, William Dow III, commented that his client did not deprive anyone of the right to appeal. "This was merely a question of inefficiency. He was late in processing the articulation," said Dow, adding, "The most significant judicial canons — independence, integrity, impartiality and fairness — were not violated."[2]
Judge Holden has the right to appeal the Connecticut Judicial Review Council's decision, but his attorney said that Judge Holden will not be doing so.[2]
The Connecticut Judicial Review Council is a 12-member council that is composed of three Superior Court judges, three attorneys, and members of the general public. In the council's 2012 online report, the council states that it "has jurisdiction over justices of the Supreme Court, judges of the Appellate Court and Superior Court, senior judges, judge referees, workers’ compensation commissioners, and family support magistrates."[2]
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