Opinion ID: 854124
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Cause 361Counts Two, Three, Four, Five, and SixFactual Findings

Text: Counts Two through Six under this cause all involve, in principal part, assertions of judicial misconduct stemming from Respondent presiding in cases involving parties with whom he had relationships that may give rise to, among other things, an appearance of impropriety or partiality. We have consolidated our discussion of these charges for that reason. Respondent first met Rita Neal in the spring of 1990. On June 1, 1990, Respondent entered an appearance and a plea of not guilty on behalf of Ms. Neal in a criminal misdemeanor proceeding pending in Marion Superior Court. The record is unclear as to whether the attorney-client relationship ended with that one appearance. We must presume so, in the absence of findings to the contrary. However, another form of relationship would later become established. Respondent began an intermittent sexual relationship with Ms. Neal in early 1992. In a statement given in 1996 to law enforcement authorities, Rita Neal described her relationship with Respondent by stating that he had represented her in a legal matter, then started flirting with [her], that she had been seeing him ever since. She further stated that the relationship was sexual in nature. Around March of 1996, Respondent started helping Neal financially. Ms. Neal stayed in various hotels and Respondent often paid for her room. Ms. Neal testified that between May and November, 1996, Respondent gave her between $300.00 and $500.00 most weeks. In November, 1996, Respondent and Rita Neal were stopped by the police in Henry County while they were driving in Respondent's vehicle. Rita Neal was then arrested on an outstanding warrant. In statements made to Henry County law enforcement officers in February, 1997, Respondent admitted to having a sexual relationship with Rita Neal that continued through the November date in 1996 when they were stopped in his vehicle. Against this backdrop of an entangled legal and personal relationship, we examine two instances in which Respondent presided in cases involving Ms. Neal. On October 24, 1991, in his capacity as a part-time commissioner in Henry Circuit Court, Respondent presided over a child visitation dispute in which Ms. Neal was a party, along with her former husband, Allen Neal. Present at the hearing were Ms. Neal, her attorney Jeff Galyen, Allen Neal, and his attorney. The issues remained pending before Respondent for many months. Allen Neal became concerned about why there had been no ruling for a long period of time so he had a conversation with Rita Neal. During that conversation, Ms. Neal advised him that she knew the judge. Allen Neal became frustrated, retained a new attorney, and the case was ultimately decided by Judge John Kellam. Thus, the evidence shows Respondent had an attorney-client relationship with Rita Neal that had been established just a little more than a year prior to Neal appearing before him as a judge. A sexual relationship later developed, but it is not completely clear from the record whether there was overlap between the commencement of the sexual relationship between Respondent and Ms. Neal and his presiding in the child visitation dispute involving her. At no time did Respondent disclose to Allen Neal or his attorney that he had any kind relationship with Rita Neal nor did he disqualify himself from a case in which she was a litigant. This was not the last time that Ms. Neal would appear as a party in a case pending before Respondent. On September 6, 1996, Respondent was presiding in the Henry Circuit Court when a Title IV-D case involving Rita Neal was called. The prosecutor was attempting to collect child support from Rita Neal on behalf of Allen Neal. Rita Neal did not appear on that date and attempts to serve her had been unsuccessful. Respondent commented to the prosecutor in passing that he knew the family and Rita would be hard to find. The case was continued by Respondent due to lack of service on Rita Neal. Other than stating in passing that he knew the family, Respondent made no disclosure to the prosecutor about his relationship with Rita Neal nor did he disqualify or indicate he would disqualify himself from the case. On December 13, 1996, Respondent was presiding in the Henry Circuit Court and was appointed and qualified as judge pro tempore in the same Title IV-D case discussed above. The case against Rita Neal was continued on that date on the prosecutor's motion. Similarly, on this occasion, Respondent made no disclosure to the prosecutor about his relationship with Rita Neal other than having said at one point that he knew the family. The Commission clearly and convincingly proved that Respondent had an intimate sexual and financial relationship with Rita Neal prior to and while presiding over a case involving her in 1996. Respondent also had previously represented Ms. Neal in an unrelated matter in 1990. At no time did Respondent disclose these relationships to the litigants nor did he disqualify himself from the case. The Commission also filed charges against Respondent in connection with another occasion in which Respondent's conduct as judge might be called into question. In 1991, Respondent represented William McDaniel in a support case. Marit McDaniel, William's current wife, testified that she had also consulted with Respondent as her attorney on five to ten occasions in connection with a custody proceeding around 1990 and 1991. The record does not make clear whether Respondent's attorney-client relationship with either William or Marit McDaniel extended beyond 1991. We must assume not for purposes of this opinion. On November 16, 1994, Respondent, in his capacity as part-time commissioner in the Delaware Superior Court 4, presided over an eviction proceeding captioned Gibson v. McDaniel. The plaintiffsCharles and Virginia Gibsonappeared without counsel. The defendants were William and Marit McDaniel. They also appeared without counsel. The McDaniels were ordered by Respondent to relinquish possession of the property and a damage hearing was set for December 14, 1994. Respondent made no disclosure to the Gibsons about any prior relationship with Marit or William McDaniel. On December 14, 1994, the same parties appeared before Respondent and on this occasion the Gibsons were represented by attorney William Lutz, who had entered his appearance that same day. William Lutz submitted evidence to the court on behalf of the Gibsons including a demand letter for $2,841.99 for back rent and damage to the property. Respondent took the case under advisement at the conclusion of the hearing but never ruled on the plea for back rent and damages. Again, no disclosure of any prior representation was made. Respondent admitted at the trial of this cause that when Gibson v. McDaniel came before him, he remembered having previously represented William McDaniel. Respondent denied, however, having ever represented Marit McDaniel. Respondent further claimed he did make a disclosure of the prior representation of William McDaniel and that the parties waived any conflict. The facts proven at trial demonstrate otherwise. Respondent knew he had previously represented William McDaniel and had consulted with Marit McDaniel. He did not disclose this information to the plaintiffs or their counsel nor did he disqualify himself from the case in which the McDaniels were parties.