Discipline recommended for judge who put woman on probation, then wrote her seeking relationship
A censure and 30-day unpaid suspension has been recommended for a Michigan judge who put a woman on probation in a domestic violence case, then wrote her on court stationery seeking a romantic relationship.
Jackson County District Judge R. Darryl Mazur also has not contested a claim that he interfered in a criminal case in order to try to help a neighbor, MLive reports. He cooperated with a legal ethics investigation and agreed to the discipline sought by the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission. The state supreme court will make the final decision.
After asking about the marital status of the woman in whom he was interested, Mazur noted in his handwritten letter on court stationery that “being on probation is a complication.” However, “I am interested if you are,” he wrote.
The article says Mazur defended himself in the resulting legal ethics case and told the Citizen Patriot earlier this week that he now realizes his conduct was “indefensible.” So “I decided I will move forward, take my lumps for making the poor decisions I made, make amends and get beyond it,” he said.
