Legal Ethics

Utah Federal Judge’s $300 Obama Donation Won’t Lead to Sanction

  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  • Print.

The chief federal judge for Utah won’t face a misconduct complaint for donating $300 to the election campaign of Barack Obama.

U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell has apologized and agreed not to make any more donations. Because of those actions, the chief judge of the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to drop a misconduct complaint against her, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

The Nov. 11 dismissal order did not name Campbell, the newspaper said, but the facts of the case mirrored those involving the judge.

Campbell apologized after the newspaper disclosed the 2007 donation last month, saying she had not been aware the contribution violated the judicial code. The appeals court’s dismissal order said Campbell had made four campaign contributions since 1995 when she became a judge. She also sought the return of the $300 contribution.

Give us feedback, share a story tip or update, or report an error.