A judge in Massachusetts, who recently had his high profile 2 million dollar libel verdict against the Boston Herald affirmed by the Supreme Judicial Court, is now facing ethics charges in connection with the case.
The charges are that, shortly after winning his verdict, which turned on a Herald story that falsely accused the judge of saying that a 14 year old rape victim "should get over it," the judge sent a note to the Herald's publisher, asking for a meeting. In his letter, which was on judicial stationery, the judge wrote: "You will bring to that meeting a cashiers check, payable to me, in the sum of $3,260,000....No check, no meeting." He also warned the publisher that telling anyone about the letter would be "a BIG mistake."
The judge is accused of having engaged in "willful misconduct" that was unbecoming of a judicial officer and that cast the judicial system in a bad light. He's also accused of using his position for personal gain. More on the story here and here.