Judge faces hearing on judicial impropriety
June 25, 2009
Nebraska: Judge Kent Florom was accused of judicial misconduct and faced a hearing before the Nebraska Judicial Qualifications Commission on June 16, 2009. The accusation was brought by several Nebraska attorneys who claim "that Florom violated four ethical canons of the judiciary by not upholding the integrity and independence of the judiciary, not avoiding impropriety, by not performing his duties impartially, and not conducting extra-judicial activities to minimize conflict with judicial obligations."
Florom is accused of using his "judicial influence to intervene in the criminal case of Sharon Kramer, a high school teacher and softball coach who was convicted of stealing funds from the high school booster club concession stand in March 2008". He is also accused of threatening North Platte School Board Member Jim Paloucek: "Tell your buddy (Jim Paloucek) if he comes after Sharon Kramer he’s going to be making an enemy he doesn’t want to make."
The outcome of the complaint will not be known for several months.[1]
Footnotes
Federal courts:
Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Nebraska • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Nebraska
State courts:
Nebraska Supreme Court • Nebraska Court of Appeals • Nebraska District Courts • Nebraska County Courts • Nebraska Separate Juvenile Courts • Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court • Nebraska Problem-Solving Courts
State resources:
Courts in Nebraska • Nebraska judicial elections • Judicial selection in Nebraska
