Did Judge Refer Cases to Lawyer in Exchange for a Cut-Rate Divorce?

A Minnesota judge has been accused by a state disciplinary body of referring at least 19 divorce mediation cases to his personal attorney, in exchange for a $64,000 discount on the legal bill for his own divorce. His ex-wife then reportedly dropped the dime on his alleged misconduct.

"In 2004, Judge Timothy Blakely was allegedly cash-strapped by his divorce and owed more than $100,000 in fees to the St. Paul-based law firm of Collins, Buckley, Sauntry and Haugh," reports the Pioneer Press. "A complaint filed by the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards maintains that Blakely then began to appoint Christine L. Stroemer, one of the firm's attorneys, to mediate divorce cases that appeared before him."

However, Blakely's response denies that he had any "special arrangement" with Stroemer or received preferential treatment, the newspaper writes. The lawyer's firm has a longtime relationship with courts in several counties and has for years handled mediation work apparently referred by the courts, according to the article.

Blakely has been on the bench in the state's First Judicial District since 1998.

The state supreme court will now appoint a three-member group to investigate the complaint and make a recommendation to the board. Ultimately, the supreme court will determine if there was any misconduct.