Opinion ID: 1879722
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Incidents Involving Neil Johnson

Text: On March 10, 1984, Neil Johnson began work as Judge Miera's court reporter. Soon after Johnson was hired, Judge Miera and Johnson began socializing together, including playing raquetball, running, and going out to lunch. Johnson ate dinner with Judge Miera and his wife at Miera's home on several occasions. In April or May, 1984, while discussing his marital problems, Judge Miera informed Johnson he was bisexual. On two occasions in May, 1984, Judge Miera stayed overnight at Johnson's apartment. Johnson was then separated from his wife and lived alone. Johnson and Judge Miera provided different accounts of the overnight stays. Johnson testified on the first occasion Judge Miera came to his single-bedroom apartment and asked to stay because he was having an argument with his wife. Johnson agreed and Judge Miera slept in the bedroom while Johnson slept on the floor in the living room. Johnson testified Judge Miera got up during the night, lay down next to Johnson and touched his back. When Johnson asked him what he was doing, Judge Miera got up and returned to the bedroom. Johnson testified the next morning Judge Miera told him they would have sexual relations someday and Johnson replied that it would not happen. The following week, Judge Miera stayed at Johnson's apartment again. Johnson testified Judge Miera again lay down next to him during the night and, when asked what he was doing, returned to the bedroom. Judge Miera admitted staying at Johnson's apartment on two occasions, but denied that on either occasion he lay next to Johnson or told him they would have sexual relations. On the evening of July 26, 1984, Judge Miera called Johnson and told him he was contemplating suicide. Johnson went to Judge Miera's home and, according to Johnson, Judge Miera made sexual overtures, including attempting to unbuckle his pants, during several hours of discussion concerning Judge Miera's marital and personal difficulties. Judge Miera testified he called Johnson while contemplating suicide, but denied making sexual overtures. According to Judge Miera, the two did engage in a mutual nonsexual embrace. The panel found there was not clear and convincing evidence to support Johnson's allegation that Judge Miera made sexual advances during the discussion, and the Board does not dispute this finding. Following the suicide discussion, the work relationship between Judge Miera and Johnson became strained. According to Johnson, in December 1984, Judge Miera called him into chambers and began discussing their problems. Johnson testified when he attempted to terminate the conversation, Judge Miera got up from his desk as if to leave, but then quickly turned and kissed Johnson on the lips. Johnson testified he quit his employment with Judge Miera on January 11, 1985, as a result of the kiss. During the summer of 1985, Johnson agreed to return as Judge Miera's court reporter in September of that year. He quit in October, 1986, alleging Judge Miera continued to make sexual advances and pursue a social relationship with him.