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White House accepts impeached judge's resignation

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The White House on Monday accepted the resignation of impeached federal judge Samuel Kent from his seat on the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas. In a resignation letter submitted last week, Kent said he would step down by the end of June. Kent recieved a letter from White House Counsel Greg Craig saying that US President Barack Obama had accepted the resignation. Kent's termination comes amidst impeachment trial proceedings against him in the US Senate, which last week accepted articles of impeachment approved by the US House of Representatives earlier this month. Kent is the first federal judge to be impeached in 20 years, and only the thirteenth federal judge ever to be impeached. Last month, Kent submitted a letter of resignation that would have been effective June 2010, allowing him to collect his $174,000 annual salary and full health benefits until then. In May, Kent pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charges in connection with the alleged sexual harassment of his secretary and former case manager as part of a plea agreement that prevented him from facing a criminal trial. Following his plea, he was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $6,500 in restitution.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on July 01, 2009 (boomark / email).