Six Marion County judges told investigators they feared for their safety after a fellow circuit judge allegedly unleashed an obscenity-laced, reportedly intoxicated tirade at a judicial conference in central Oregon. The episode, which judges say included slurs and crude sexual remarks, led county leaders to pull the judge from his docket and hand the situation to state investigators.
As reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive, the incident unfolded during an informal after-hours gathering at the Oregon Circuit Court Judges Association conference at Sunriver Resort. Witnesses said Marion County Circuit Judge Channing Bennett raised his voice and repeatedly used vulgar and offensive language. The outlet reports it obtained a Judicial Department report describing how several judges moved away from Bennett and later said they felt threatened.
According to Salem Reporter, a judicial deputy marshal wrote a formal report on the disturbance, and the Oregon Judicial Department has brought in outside counsel to investigate. The publication also reported that Bennett has taken voluntary leave from the bench while the inquiry plays out.
How complaints are handled
Per the Oregon Judicial Department, the state’s Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability reviews complaints that may violate the Code of Judicial Conduct and can recommend discipline, including censure, suspension or removal, to the Oregon Supreme Court. The commission may investigate, hold hearings and then make recommendations based on what it finds.
Allegations and courtroom fallout
The Oregonian/OregonLive detailed accounts from multiple judges who said Bennett used a misogynistic four-letter slur about a prosecutor who was not present and made other derogatory comments toward a woman judge in the room. Colleagues also reported that he used homophobic language toward a male judge. Some judges later told investigators they believed Bennett carried a firearm and said they feared they had been targeted.
Local officials respond
Presiding Judge Jim Edmonds told colleagues and staff that Bennett’s active cases were reassigned and that no new cases would be given to him while the matter is under review, according to Salem Reporter. Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson informed officials that she had been notified of the incident and, the report states, asked that Bennett not be assigned to cases involving her office.
What comes next
How quickly the commission moves will depend on whether it opens a formal investigation and holds a hearing, a process that can take weeks or months, according to the Oregon Judicial Department. For now, Bennett remains on voluntary leave while the investigation continues, and the presiding judge has taken steps to limit potential safety risks in the courthouse.
