The Houston Chronicle has a new article with updates on the controversy over Judge Samuel B. Kent, the Galveston, Texas federal judge who has been disciplined for sexual harassment, and has a long history of other ethical lapses. As the article explains, more and more people are calling for Congress to investigate the possibility of impeaching Kent (which is the only way to remove him from the bench).
Unfortunately, there are a couple of minor factual errors in the piece. For example, I am identified as a professor at George Washington University, not George Mason. The article also states that “In 2005, he was formally rebuked in a 5th Circuit opinion for showing favoritism.” In fact, the decision in question was handed down in 2002, and Kent was rebuked for showing “hostility” to one of the parties in the case, not for favoritism (which might be considered a somewhat more serious violation of judicial ethics). I have pointed out these mistakes to one of the article’s authors, and she assured me that they will be corrected. I don’t think these errors significantly affect the article’s main points: that the accusations against Kent are serious, and that support for a congressional investigation is growing.