Judges can behave badly, too – sometimes, very badly.

Earlier this month, police arrested Judge Mark Fuller of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama on suspicion of misdemeanor battery. Fuller had allegedly beaten his wife, who called 911 from a hotel. Fuller, however said his wife was the one who became violent when she accused him of cheating on her with a law clerk, reported the Montgomery Advertiser.

Last week, Fuller got some more bad news: The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals weighed in, sending Fuller a judicial misconduct complaint it had received and asking him to respond, according to The Associated Press. The Eleventh Circuit also reassigned Fuller’s outstanding cases and ordered that he not receive new cases.

‘Law and Order’

Now appears to be a prime opportunity for Fuller’s critics to come out of the woodwork. Fuller is known for imposing maximum sentences in criminal cases whenever he can, according to an open letter to Atlanta municipal court judges authored by Alabama State University trustee Donald Watkins.

No Stranger to Questions

While Watkins’ letter is long on conclusions and short on facts, Fuller has been accused of having questionable ethics before.

What’s Next for Fuller?

Fuller remains an Article III judge until he is impeached or resigns. That means he is still being paid even though he isn’t hearing any cases.

Related Resources:

  • Alabama judge could avoid prosecution in Atlanta (Birmingham, Alabama’s WIAT-TV)
  • Siegelman Deserves New Trial Because of Judge’s ‘Grudge,’ Evidence Shows (The Huffington Post)
  • Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Resigns Amid Porn Scandal (FindLaw’s Strategist)
  • Judge Gone Wild: Judge Salcido Turned Court Into Reality Show (FindLaw’s Strategist)

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