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Judge Kent takes a deal (and now becomes the latest, greatest topic for sentencing debate)

By Douglas A. Berman

I have not blogged at all about the ugly allegations against federal judge Samuel Kent, but this latest news about his case from Mary Flood at the Houston Chronicle means that Judge Kent may soon to become my new post-Booker federal sentencing poster-child.  Here are the basics: U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of justice today and retired from the bench, avoiding a trial on that charge and five others accusing him of sexually abusing two female employees.  Kent was scheduled to see a jury selected this morning for his trial on all six felony counts. Few federal judges ever go to trial, but his would have been the first in which a federal judge was accused of sexual charges. ?Judge Kent believes that this settlement is in the best interest of all involved,? his attorney, Dick DeGuerin, said after this morning?s hearing...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on February 23, 2009 (boomark / email).