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Senate terminates federal judge impeachment proceedings

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The US Senate on Wednesday dismissed articles of impeachment for former federal judge Samuel Kent. The decision to terminate impeachment proceedings came after the White House accepted Kent's resignation last month. Kent resigned at the end of June after the US House of Representatives voted to impeach him. Kent is the first federal judge to be impeached in 20 years, and only the thirteenth federal judge ever to be impeached. Earlier last month, Kent submitted a letter of resignation that would have been effective June 2010, allowing him to collect his $174,000 annual salary and full health benefits until then. In May, Kent pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of his secretary and former case manager as part of a plea agreement that prevented him from facing a criminal trial. Following his plea, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $6,500 in restitution.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 23, 2009 (boomark / email).