Judge reprimanded over handling of domestic assault case
A judge in Nashville, Tennessee, has been publicly reprimanded by the state Board of Judicial Conduct for, at the request of his friend, asking a magistrate to release the friend’s client, who had been jailed on a domestic assault charge, the Tennessean reports.
Davidson County Judge Casey Moreland had relied on information given him by a social friend, attorney Bryan Lewis, who told him that real estate developer David Chase did not have a domestic relationship with the woman involved and thus should not be kept in jail for a 12-hour “cooling off” period required by law. Moreland called a magistrate handling the lockup and told him the hold should be waived, prompting Chase’s release.
The information was wrong.
After being locked up just two hours June 8, the Tennessean reported earlier, Chase returned home, broke his ex-girlfriend’s phone and choked her until she lost consciousness, police allege. Police say that when they arrested Chase the first time, Chase had dragged her by her ponytail out of his apartment.
In a three-page letter (PDF) to Moreland this week, the Board of Judicial Conduct outlined its findings that he had violated state law with conduct that detrimentally affected the judiciary, as well as violating judicial canons concerning compliance with the law, promoting confidence in the judiciary and abuse of the prestige of judicial office.
The letter noted that the judge had cooperated with the investigation and with disciplinary counsel and had publicly apologized.
Judge Moreland was re-elected in August. Chase still faces charges of domestic assault, aggravated assault by strangulation, vandalism and interference with an emergency call.