Judge removed from hearing cases while being investigated for misconduct

A District Court judge has been removed from presiding over criminal cases in Surry and Stokes counties while a state judicial commission investigates allegations of misconduct and failure to perform his duties.

Yesterday, the district attorney's office asked that Judge Mark Badgett recuse himself from all criminal cases. District Attorney Ricky Bowman said he could not discuss the case.

Bowman and nine others - some local attorneys and assistant district attorneys - filed complaints against Badgett earlier this year that led to an investigation by the N.C. Judicial Standards Commission.

After considering the evidence, the judicial commission issued a formal complaint against Badgett last week. There are nine allegations. Badgett is accused of not disclosing a business relationship with Clark Dummit, a Winston-Salem attorney who won a few cases in front of him. Also, there are allegations of coercing guilty pleas, berating defendants, and embarrassing clerks.

Sherry Youngquist

Well, you had to know this was coming. Mark had the audacity to switch parties a few years ago. The amusing irony is that the guy doesn't act any differently than he did when he was a Democrat, but people like Jim Dellinger didn't seem to have any problems with him back then. And Dellinger has a serious case of pot-and-kettle syndrome. Didn't you almost get disbarred a while back, Jimmy-boy?

Another amusing irony is that the details given in this article point to a situation that is laughable in comparison to the hijinks of other judges, past or present. At least Badgett isn't accused of turning loose a habitual child molester who happened to work for one of his political pals. And I don't see anything here about Badgett forcing the county to furnish an office for his girlfriend.

Dummit said that the investigation is a witch hunt.

Ya think so, Capt. Obvious?