Why Are Judges Hard to Hold Accountable?

In Nebraska, a supreme court justice hurriedly resigned in the past two weeks. The state judicial ethics board isn’t commenting on allegations that he was accused of misconduct “in line with the national #MeToo movement” (quoting Omaha World-Leader). Why is this supreme court justice given cover by the judicial ethics board? The board suggests that it’s to protect the judiciary against false accusations, and he has not had a hearing—but then why did he quit suddenly, and why is a state senator seeking to have him disbarred? Doesn’t the public have an interest in knowing more?

In Arkansas, former judge Joseph Boeckmann was recently sentenced to five years in prison. He had cut sentencing deals with scores of young men who were charged with criminal offenses. He gave them community service in return for sexual favors provided in the privacy of his chambers. His misconduct gives new meaning to the MeToo Movement. Why did he get away with this for so many years? Where was the state's judicial ethics board during this time?

In Cook County (Illinois), a circuit judge, Jessica Arong O’Brien, was convicted last month of a $1.4 million federal mortgage fraud scheme. She pocketed $325,000 illegally. She will be sentenced on July 6^th.  O'Brien remains in her position, collecting on her annual salary of $198,075 (as of February 28^th), though she faces a disbarment hearing in early April. As of today, no complaint has been filed to the Illinois Judicial Inquiry Board. Maybe they don't read the Chicago newspapers, or maybe they are waiting for someone to act on this. Don't they have  authority to start an inquiry upon the felony conviction of a sitting Illinois judge? If not, why not? And why is a convicted judge still drawing a high salary on the taxpayers' dime?

In Champaign County (Illinois), there is nothing new to report on an ethics complaint against Judge Robert Steigmann. In early August, the state judicial board charged him with a variety of ethical violations stemming from his use of office staff and stationery to solicit speaking gigs of $1,250 before health care and police organizations. He doesn't deny the factual allegations, just the interpretation of the rules. Illinois' judicial code bars the use of a judge’s office for private gain. It's now seven months and counting, with no ruling from the ethics board.