A northern Kentucky judge has been removed from the bench after being found guilty of 10 charges of misconduct.
The Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission voted unanimously to remove Judge Dawn M. Gentry, 39, a family court judge in Kenton County, in a decision reached Monday.
“This case does not involve one or two isolated occurrences, but instead involves a pattern of misconduct and repeated exercise of extremely poor judgment – on and off the Bench — by the Respondent that continued for over a year, including after Respondent was informed that a complaint was filed with the Commission against her,” the decision states.
The commission said Gentry’s conduct “violated numerous requirements of the Judicial Canons” including:
- Failing to perform the duties of her judicial office fairly and impartially (Canon 2, Rule 2.2) and without bias or prejudice (Canon 2, Rule 2.3(A) and (B)).
- Engaging in conduct that would appear to a reasonable person to be coercive (Canon 3, Rule 3.1(D)).
- Failing to act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the independence, integrity, and impartiality of the judiciary, and avoiding impropriety and the appearance of impropriety (Canon 1, Rule 1.2)).
- Allowing social, political, financial or other interests or relationships to influence her judicial conduct or judgment (Canon 2, Rule 2.4(B)).
- Failing to make administrative appointments on the basis of merit and avoiding nepotism, favoritism and unnecessary appointments (Canon 2, Rule 2.13(A)).
- Failing to require her staff to act in a manner consistent with the judge’s obligations under the Code of Judicial Conduct (Canon 2, Rule 2.12(A)).
- Approving compensation of appointees beyond the fair value of services rendered (Canon 2, Rule 2.13(B)).
- Failing to disqualify herself in any proceeding where her impartiality might reasonably be questioned (Canon 2, Rule 2.11(A)).
- Failing to be patient, dignified, and courteous to those with whom the judge deals in an official capacity, and permitting similar conduct of others subject to her direction and control (Canon 2, Rule 2.8(B)).
- Failing to cooperate and be candid and honest with judicial disciplinary agencies (Canon 2, Rule 2.16(A)).
- Retaliating against a person known or suspected to have assisted or cooperated with an investigation of a judge (Canon 2, Rule 2.16(B)).
“Respondent failed in essentially every respect of this fundamental rule applicable to all judges,” the decision states. “After proper notice and hearing, and based on the totality of the circumstances and evidence presented at the Final Hearing and the broad range of repeated and systemic misconduct by Respondent over a substantial period of time, the Commission by a vote of 5-0 orders that Respondent be removed from office.”
Gentry was originally accused of hiring a man she was in a sexual relationship with, while terminating an employee to make room for her boyfriend. She was also accused of engaging in sexual activity with her boyfriend and a female employee in her office.
Furthermore, Gentry was charged with coercing attorneys to support her 2018 election, and retaliated against a lawyer who didn’t contribute the maximum amount of money to her campaign. She was additionally accused of approving false time cards for employees.
The order to vacate the bench takes effect in 10 days unless an appeal is filed.
Gentry was appointed to the post by former Gov. Matt Bevin in 2016.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
