Kent Florom
Kent E. Florom was the Presiding Judge of Nebraska County Court’s Eleventh Judicial District. Judge Florom was appointed to his seat on the county court bench in 1991 by former Governor Ben Nelson. His name was submitted by fellow county court judges for the position of Presiding Judge, the nomination was approved by the Nebraska Supreme Court, and became active on January 15, 2008.[1]
Removal from office
Florom was removed from the bench in 2010, after violating standards of judicial conduct. The Nebraska Commission on Judicial Qualifications recommended he be removed, and the Nebraska Supreme Court agreed.[2]
In response, Florom has filed a request for a new hearing. The Nebraska Supreme Court will decide whether to grant the hearing.[3]
On August 11, 2010, the Nebraska Supreme Court denied the motion for a rehearing.[4]
Judicial misconduct hearing
A complaint was filed January 29, 2009 with the Nebraska Supreme Court by it's Chief Justice Michael Heavican alleging 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".[5]
Specifically, the complaint alleged that Florom "improperly involved himself in the case of Sharon Kramer, a North Platte teacher and softball coach accused of stealing from a high school booster club concession stand, and a softball player who was facing other criminal charges" and that he "threatened a school board member out of concern that Kramer’s conviction jeopardized her teaching position with North Platte High School".[6]
The complaint led to a hearing before the Nebraska Judicial Qualifications Commission on June 16, 2009. Florom expressed regret at being a "dumb ass" and stated that "I got to watch my big mouth". "Florom said he was frustrated and angry and said he viewed the actions as a vendetta against Kramer made solely for political gain by elected officials. 'I wanted the world to know I was mad,' Florom testified when asked why he did it. 'I did not have a specific plan.'"[5]
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ NE Supreme Court Office of Public Information "Judge Kent Florom Named 2008 Presiding Judge of County Court’s Eleventh Judicial District" January 16, 2008
- ↑ Omaha.com, "Supreme Court removes judge," July 9, 2010
- ↑ North Platte Bulletin, "Lincoln County Judge files appeal," July 19, 2010
- ↑ KCAUTV.com, "Neb. high court won't reconsider ousting judge," August 12, 2010 (dead link)
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 North Platte Bulletin "Judge testifies before commission" June 25, 2009
- ↑ Associated Press "Lincoln County judge accused of violating judicial code" February 13, 2009
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
