A suspended east Arkansas judge denied Thursday that he used his influence to reinstate a fired police chief as a judicial ethics panel weighed whether to recommend further sanctions.
Circuit Judge L.T. Simes faces charges from the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission that he violated judicial rules of conduct in handling the case of a fired West Helena police chief in 2005.
Simes, who was suspended from the bench last year in a separate matter, denied acting inappropriately in the case challenging the firing of Vincent Bell, the city's police chief. The complaint dates to before the towns of Helena and West Helena merged, when Johnny Weaver was mayor of West Helena. In 2004, Weaver fired Bell, a move upheld by the city's police chief.
"I don't have an interest in any decision about his employment," Simes told a three-member panel of the commission.
Simes issued a temporary restraining order in 2005 reinstating Bell. Weaver and his attorney tried to have the judge recuse himself and said that Simes had a conflict of interest because he had spoken privately with Weaver about the chief's firing.
Simes called a hearing in January 2005 where he ordered Weaver removed from the courtroom. Simes sanctioned Weaver and his attorney, ordering them to cover attorney fees in the case.
The commission has accused Simes of not following proper procedures for issuing the sanctions.
Simes on Thursday defended his actions, saying he had Weaver removed from the courtroom because he wanted to question them separately on the filing. He has said he sanctioned the two partly because he believed they were "judge shopping," or trying to find a favorable court for their lawsuit.
The three-judge panel completed its hearing Thursday and has 60 days to issue a recommendation to the full commission. If the panel recommends sanctions, they could range from a letter of admonishment to removal from the bench.
Simes is currently suspended without pay after the Arkansas Supreme Court last year found he violated judicial rules by practicing law while he was a judge. He was unopposed for re-election in May and will resume his post in January when his suspension ends.
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A suspended east Arkansas judge denied Thursday that he used his influence to reinstate a fired police chief as a judicial ethics panel weighed whether to recommend further sanctions.
Circuit Judge L.T. Simes faces charges from the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission that he violated judicial rules of conduct in handling the case of a fired West Helena police chief in 2005.
Simes, who was suspended from the bench last year in a separate matter, denied acting inappropriately in the case challenging the firing of Vincent Bell, the city's police chief. The complaint dates to before the towns of Helena and West Helena merged, when Johnny Weaver was mayor of West Helena. In 2004, Weaver fired Bell, a move upheld by the city's police chief.
"I don't have an interest in any decision about his employment," Simes told a three-member panel of the commission.
Simes issued a temporary restraining order in 2005 reinstating Bell. Weaver and his attorney tried to have the judge recuse himself and said that Simes had a conflict of interest because he had spoken privately with Weaver about the chief's firing.
Simes called a hearing in January 2005 where he ordered Weaver removed from the courtroom. Simes sanctioned Weaver and his attorney, ordering them to cover attorney fees in the case.
The commission has accused Simes of not following proper procedures for issuing the sanctions.
Simes on Thursday defended his actions, saying he had Weaver removed from the courtroom because he wanted to question them separately on the filing. He has said he sanctioned the two partly because he believed they were "judge shopping," or trying to find a favorable court for their lawsuit.
The three-judge panel completed its hearing Thursday and has 60 days to issue a recommendation to the full commission. If the panel recommends sanctions, they could range from a letter of admonishment to removal from the bench.
Simes is currently suspended without pay after the Arkansas Supreme Court last year found he violated judicial rules by practicing law while he was a judge. He was unopposed for re-election in May and will resume his post in January when his suspension ends.
