Constitutional Law
US Senate Gears Up for Judge Kent’s Impeachment Trial
Posted Jun 24, 2009, 01:13 pm CST
By Martha Neil
In a rarely seen legal ritual, the Senate received articles of impeachment from the House of Representatives today for the trial of U.S. District Judge Samuel Kent.
The judge, who has been convicted of obstruction of justice concerning his initial testimony about nonconsensual sexual conduct with two female court employees in Texas, is currently jailed in a federal prison medical facility as he serves a 33-month sentence while he continues to draw his $477-a-day salary. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), who is a former prosecutor, was named today as chair of a bipartisan 12-member Senate committee that will handle the prosecution of the case, according to the Houston Chronicle and the Prime Buzz blog of the Kansas City Star.
The Senate trial could begin in several weeks.
Additional coverage:
ABAJournal.com: "House Impeaches Judge Kent; Speedy Senate Trial Is Expected"
Associated Press: "Senate accepts impeachment articles against judge"
Blog of Legal Times: "Senate Appoints Panel to Investigate Impeached Judge"
CQPolitics: "Senate Takes First Steps Toward Judge’s Impeachment Trial"