Jefferson County, Kentucky family court judge Ogden suspended 30 days, admits misconduct
Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky — Kentucky's Judicial Conduct Commission signed an agreed suspension order on Oct. 26 suspending Jefferson County Family Court Judge Lauren Ogden for 30 days. After reviewing numerous complaints, the commission examined video and written records from Judge Ogden's courtroom and found that in multiple cases she failed to remain impartial and failed to perform her judicial duties as required by law.
The suspension order lists specific conduct including: Ogden presiding at one hearing with her robe unzipped, revealing a shirt printed with two champagne glasses; and in another case, eating and texting during proceedings. The commission found she failed to establish and maintain the decorum a courtroom requires. Ogden was appointed to the bench in 2018 by then-Gov. Matt Bevin; she waived a formal hearing process and agreed to the suspension order.
In an Oct. 26 statement, Ogden said everyone who walks into her courtroom should feel heard, that the responsibility lies with her, that families coming to family court deserve timely attention and full hearings, that she is committed to providing both, and that she respects the commission's work and accepts its order. Her attorney said that given the nature of the proceedings and the judicial conduct code's limits on public comment, Ogden could not comment further at this time.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 路易斯维尔市景，Public domain，来源 Wikimedia Commons
