Opinion ID: 1800645
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Adulterous affair and sex at the courthouse)

Text: Judge Miller and Ms. Viator were involved in a sexual relationship from 1992 until 2002. Throughout this period of time, Judge Miller was married to someone else. After Judge Miller took the bench in the 31st Judicial District Court in 1997, he engaged in sexual intercourse with Ms. Viator in his chambers at the courthouse once or twice a week. All of these sexual encounters occurred after business hours. Furthermore, Ms. Viator met Judge Miller at the courthouse on Sunday afternoons and on holidays innumerable times. On these occasions, the vehicles belonging to both Judge Miller and Ms. Viator may have been visible to anyone passing near the courthouse. Ms. Viator's son, A.V., was born in September 1994. By late 1995 and early 1996, rumors had begun circulating in the community that Judge Miller was the father of A.V. Despite Judge Miller's knowledge of these rumors and of their likely truth, he frequently allowed Ms. Viator to bring her two children to the courthouse and on a few occasions allowed them to play in the courtroom when no proceedings were being conducted. Judge Miller also took A.V. with him to visit the Sheriff's Office. After Ms. Viator left her employment at the court in 2002, Judge Miller told the district attorney, the sheriff, and other employees at the courthouse and in his office that he had had a sexual relationship with Ms. Viator and that he believed Ms. Viator's son was his own. The Commission alleged that Judge Miller's conduct violated Canons 1 and 2A of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Commission further alleged that Judge Miller engaged in persistent and public conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute, in violation of La. Const. art. V, § 25(C).