If the allegations by the N.C. Judicial Standards Commission prove true, it will be yet another kick in the gut for the reputation of the criminal justice system.
Forsyth District Judge Denise Hartsfield fixed traffic tickets for friends, acquaintances, members of her church and others, then lied to the State Bureau of Investigation about it, the state judicial commission alleges in a statement of charges.
She told an SBI agent that her actions do appear to be “kinda Robin Hoodish,” according to the statement by the N.C. Judicial Standards Commission.
“Respondent (Hartsfield) engaged in a continuing pattern of conduct in which she entered beneficial judgments for certain defendants,” said the statement, which cited 22 cases.
The commission filed the charges March 1 after an investigation by the SBI. The commission will hold a hearing in the next few months. If it finds ethical violations, it will recommend discipline to the N.C. Supreme Court. The court could censure Hartsfield, suspend her or remove her from office.
A quick search of the web shows that the judge in question was a featured guest last month at Wake Forest law school’s “Discover Law Day 2011.”
