Cindy George reports, "Galveston judge's reassignment will have costly effect," in today's Houston Chronicle.
It is unclear whether a reassignment to Houston's federal courthouse for rebuked Galveston federal judge Samuel Kent is part of his punishment, but the move will mean a change in the way his colleagues on the bench in Houston do business.
In late October, the Galveston docket was split among Kent and the 11 other federal district judges in Houston. This means that, on occasion, the otherwise big-city judges will be commuting to the beach — a 50-mile, hourlong drive one way.
Kent, 58, was reprimanded last month by the Judicial Council of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which governs federal courts in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, after a four-month investigation into allegations that he improperly touched a court employee.
The probe was expanded to include accusations that Kent sexually harassed other court workers. Investigators also heard claims about drinking and favoritism in Kent's handling of cases.
Kent is on a four-month leave of absence, with pay, as part of his punishment. He also was ordered to complete unspecified "remedial courses of action."
When Kent returns to the bench Jan. 2 in Houston, he will preside over 8.5 percent of Galveston cases.
That means Kent will be working in the same building as his former case manager and accuser, Cathy McBroom. She sought and was granted a transfer to Houston's federal courthouse after the alleged touching incident in Kent's Galveston chambers.
Earlier coverage is here.
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