Settlement of Sex Harassment Case Against Judge Doesn’t End His Work for County
Two court employees who sued a Texas judge for sexual harassment have settled the case for $375,000.
The Williamson County judge, Don Higginbotham, was accused of using profanity and making sexual remarks, the Austin-American Statesman reports. Among the accusations: The suit says Higginbotham told one of the employees to “come here, that he needed help going to the bathroom because it was too heavy for him to hold it up [clearly referring to his penis] because he has a bad back.” Another allegation was that he told one of the women to get out of the way because “I can’t even see around your butt.”
Former court reporter Kimberly Lee will receive $150,000, and former court secretary Sharon McGuyer will receive $75,000, the story says. The settlement also covers legal fees of $150,000. The county says the settlement was not an admission of fault.
Higginbotham resigned in June but he was at the courthouse last week working as a visiting judge.
