Judge faces ethics case, is accused of making independent investigation before ruling
A Tennessee judge is facing a legal ethics case for allegedly making a personal fact-gathering visit to a party’s home before ruling in a post-divorce child-custody case.
Circuit Judge Kay Spalding Robilio, who sits in Shelby County in the 30th Judicial District, is accused by the Tennessee State Board of Judicial Conduct of making an independent investigation of the case in February 2012, reports WMC-TV.
“A judge shall not initiate, permit … or consider other communications made to the judge outside of the presence of the parties concerning a pending or impeding proceeding,” states the board’s complaint against Robilio.
A WREG story includes a copy of the complaint. It accuses Robilio of violating canons of ethics that require a judge to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary, avoid impropriety or the appearance of impropriety and perform judicial duties impartially and diligently.
The articles don’t include any comment from Robilio or her legal counsel.
The Commercial Appeal (sub. req.) also has a story.
