Montana Chief Federal Judge under investigation after email scandal
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Update: April 9, 2012
HELENA, Montana A special judicial committee has been assigned to investigate alligations against Richard Cebull. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Alex Kozinski appointed the committee to investigate Chief Justice Cebull after he forwarded a racist email aimed against President Barack Obama from his office email account.[1]
See more details on the case below
Recent comments on the case
- -"We're glad to see that the 9th Circuit is taking up this issue, and taking it up in a pretty timely fashion. We're very glad to see that movement is happening, and that the complaint is going to be considered."[1] - Travis McAdam, director of the Montana Human Rights Network
- -"Judge Cebull has shown through his actions that he does not have the necessary temperament to fulfill his duties as a judge."[1] - Michael Keegan, People for the American Way
Upon completion of the investigation the judicial committee will present its findings and suggestions to the judicial council.[1]
March 2, 2012
Billings, Montana: Richard Cebull, the chief judge for the United States District Court for the District of Montana has called for a probe on himself after he forwarded a racist email aimed against President Barack Obama from his office email account. Cebull, a George W. Bush appointee and graduate of Montana State University and the University of Montana Law School, has been the chief judge of the district since 2008 and prior to appointment, served as a magistrate for the court. Cebull denies that he is racist and argues that the email was forwarded as a political message against Obama. He told the press, "To say it's inappropriate and stupid is an extreme understatement. There is no doubt it's racist. It wasn't forwarded for that purpose. If anything, it was political." The forwarded message read:
"Normally I don't send or forward a lot of these, but even by my standards, it was a bit touching. I want all of my friends to feel what I felt when I read this. Hope it touches your heart like it did mine.
"A little boy said to his mother, 'Mommy, how come I'm black and you're white?' His mother replied, 'Don't even go there Barack! From what I can remember about that party, you're lucky you don't bark!'"[2]
Cebull has apologized and begun the process for filing a judicial complaint against himself. Appellate Court executive Cathy Catterson told the press, "Cebull has publicly acknowledged that he has acted inappropriately. Judge Cebull has initiated the process by which a complaint of judicial misconduct will be brought against him. The Judicial Council is expected to act expeditiously in investigating and resolving this matter." While it is difficult to remove a federal judge from office, some groups have called for Cebull's resignation. Bob Edgar, president and CEO of Common Cause told the press, "If he has any respect for his office and for ideals of equality and human dignity on which our country was founded, Judge Cebull will step down today. The message he has acknowledged circulating demonstrates a lack of judicial temperament that ought to disqualify him from further service." The judicial council will investigate the matter and rule on the conduct of the judge.[2]
See also
External links
Footnotes
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Federal courts:
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: District of Montana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: District of Montana
State courts:
Montana Supreme Court • Montana District Courts • Montana Courts of Limited Jurisdiction • Montana Water Court • Montana Workers' Compensation Court
State resources:
Courts in Montana • Montana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Montana
