Sandusky Judge's Appearance of Impropriety
District Judge Leslie Dutchcot has placed herself in a pickle jar filled with the Appearance of Impropriety. The Judge is the one who ordered Jerry Sandusky, the former defensive assistant coach who allegedly raped eight boys freed on $100,000 unsecured bail.
What is an Appearance of Impropriety?
An Appearance of Impropriety is defined by Canon 2 of the American Bar Association Model Code of Judicial Conduct. It provides that “a judge shall avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all of the judges activities. The Canon defines “appearance of impropriety” as conduct that “would create in reasonable minds a perception that the judge's ability to carry out judicial responsibilities with integrity, impartiality and competence is impaired.”
What is the Judge's Appearance of Impropriety?
No one has alleged that the Judge did anything wrong, but the Appearance of Impropriety is clearly evident in the relationship between the Judge and Mr. Sandusky. The Judge allegedly gave The Second Mile charity between $500 and $1,000 and worked as a volunteer for The Second Mile, as reported by WTXF-TV a Fox affiliate. Mr. Sandusky is the founder of the charity.
As the former State College Lawyer of the Year in 2005, the Judge should know that her prior relationship with Sandusky's charity creates an appearance of impropriety in the minds of every reasonable person.
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