Which is worse? Mayor Francis Slay’s press secretary Kara Bowlin posting on Twitter that murder victim Megan Boken probably knew her attacker when instead Boken was allegedly gunned down during a robbery, or Associate Circuit Judge Barbara Peebles allowing her clerks to handle more than 350 cases while vacationing in China or absent from the bench.
I guess the unlucky winner is Peebles, because she has been recommended from removal from her job. (In the meantime, Bowlin has gone right ahead tweeting on behalf of the mayor.)
According to an investigation into her behavior by the Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline, Peebles handed over judicial responsibilities to clerks, was often late to work, and removed and destroyed a court document pertinent to her investigation. She then allegedly told a clerk that they should “take (the incident) to our graves.” Cases were postponed and dismissed. Clerks reportedly decided to issue arrest warrants, once Peebles returned from China and signed off.
The commission’s investigation found Peebles not guilty on four counts, but guilty on five. The Post-Dispatch recentlyreported that her lawyer, Paul D’Agrosa, said "she would appeal and would ask for oral argument in front of the Missouri Supreme Court."
If found guilty, the suspended judge deserves full punishment—and if that includes loss of her job, that’s fair.
Clairol used to have an advertising campaign for its hair-coloring products with the key line, “Does she, or doesn’t she? ... Only her hairdresser knows for sure.” Well, the same could be said for Peebles. One of her clerks that allegedly served as a bootleg judge also serves as Peebles’ hairdresser.
Lady Justice might be blind, but she is no fool.
If she's found guilty, then Peebles should resign immediately and go back into private practice. Her first acts might be getting her hair done and going on vacation.
Commentary by Alvin Reid
