News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
A 13th Judicial District circuit court judge has been reprimanded after sending inappropriate social media messages to multiple women starting in 2015.
An investigation by the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct revealed Judge Jonathan Lee Young sent messages to a legal professional and a plaintiff that conducted business in his court. Majority of the communications depicted Young in his judicial robe.
“A few years back was just a rough time in my life,” Young said. “It truly is a private matter that others thought should be public. So, I did not contest the accusation and just want to put it all behind me and move on. I never said I was perfect, but nothing I did affected my decisions or ability on the bench.”
The board concluded the conversations broke multiple ethical standards and undermined Young’s integrity and public trust as a judge. A 30 day suspension is possible if any other complaints involving ethical misconduct for the remainder of Young’s term. According to the report, Young took full responsibility for his actions.
Young will also be required to complete a judicial ethics program at his own expense and can not have a profile picture of himself in his judicial robe on any social media platform.
There is at least one example of a party using the messages for strategic advantage in a case, thus affecting the judicial process. The message content ranges from flirtatious to overtly sexual. Young was forced to remove himself from the case.
Young fully cooperated with the Disciplinary Counsel and has no previous record of discipline as a judge. The sanctions imposed were some of the most severe short of total removal from office.
Judges may use social media but can not participate in any conduct that can interfere with their work. The 13th district includes Clay, Cumberland, DeKalb, Overton, Pickett, Putnam, and White counties.
