Judiciary
Lawyers’ Letter Supports Cross-Dressing Judge
Posted Mar 3, 2008, 12:52 pm CST
By Debra Cassens Weiss
Bankruptcy lawyers have started a letter-writing campaign in support of a judge who was wearing a cocktail dress when police arrested him on suspicion of drunken driving.
The campaign urges the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reject the resignation of U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Somma, who pleaded no contest to drunken driving, Legal Blog Watch reports. It also asks Somma to reconsider his resignation.
"Recent events do not in any manner diminish Judge Somma’s ability to fulfill his duties and to remain as a highly respected member of the bench with the overwhelming support of the community of bankruptcy practitioners," said the letter, posted on Above the Law.
The letter’s sentiments echo those of Above the Law author David Lat. “Is this really that big a deal?” he wrote. “When you strip away the women's clothing, colorful but irrelevant details, you're left with a DWI arrest—which, while not exactly commendable conduct, is something other judges have survived.”