Suspension Of Supreme Court Justice Urged Panel Concludes Fadeley Violated Canons Of Conduct

A state panel on Thursday recommended Oregon Supreme Court Justice Ed Fadeley be suspended from the court indefinitely because of judicial ethics violations involving female employees.

The Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability concluded that Fadeley violated three canons of judicial conduct.

He did that by making “sexually offensive and inappropriate comments to female staff members, by engaging in a consensual sexual relationship with his subordinate and by inappropriately touching female employees,” the panel said.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the commission’s recommendations and make a final decision on Fadeley’s fate.

The court could censure, suspend or remove him from the bench, or take no action.

The commission recommended that Fadeley be suspended until he can prove “by clear and convincing evidence that he has reformed the deficiencies in those character traits that led to his suspension and that his resumption of office will not be detrimental to the public interest.”

The panel said the ethics rules Fadeley violated require judges to maintain high standards of conduct, to comply with the law and act in a manner promoting public confidence in the “integrity and impartiality of the judiciary” and to diligently discharge their administrative duties.

The commission report said three of the 11 members favored removing Fadeley from office and that one member supported a one-year minimum suspension.

Fadeley, 67, is a former Eugene lawyer and Oregon Senate president who has served on the Supreme Court since 1989.

A key part of the case involved whether Fadeley harassed his former secretary, Kiska Johnson, through verbal abuse and unfair criticism of her work after she ended their sexual relationship.