Judge George Paine II violated ethics but will not be disciplined
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November 28, 2011
Nashville, Tennessee: The highest level judicial ethics committee, the Federal Judicial Conference’s Committee on Judicial Conduct and Disability, has found judge George C. Paine II guilty of ethics violations.[1][2][3] At issue is Paine's membership in a segregated country club that does not allow women or minorities as voting members.[3]
In May 2011 Paine was found innocent of the ethics violation by a Judicial Council of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati.[4] Their reasoning for the ruling was that Paine had tried to integrate the club over the years, and his attempts had been "long and sincere". Though his attempts failed, the panel found there was no ethical imperative that dictate he resign. This most recent finding overturns the previous panel's decision, but Paine will not be sanctioned as he is retiring in December 2011.[1]
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 ABA Journal, "Panel Says Judge’s Membership in Country Club Is Ethics Violation, But Withholds Sanction," November 22, 2011
- ↑ Daily Journal, "Panel says federal bankruptcy judge in Tenn. should not be member of segregated country club," November 17, 2011
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thomson Reuters News and Insight, "Judge escapes disclipline over segregated-club membership," November 18, 2011
- ↑ ABA Journal, "Federal Judge’s Membership in All-White Country Club Not an Ethics Violation, Panel Says," May 12, 2011
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