The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded Judge Casey Mark Stokes, a General Sessions Court Judge in Meigs County, Tennessee through a letter dated January 4, 2023, for the latter’s undignified conduct during a court hearing.
The case is styled as ‘In the Matter of Judge Casey Stokes’ with case number #B22-9094.
The judge was charged with violating RJC 2.8(B), and RJC 1.2 of the Code of Judicial Conduct.
The Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 10: Code of Judicial Conduct can be found online at this link.
The following are as alleged and summarized from the filing.
Judge Stokes was alleged to have engaged in judicial misconduct when he called a litigant a “tough guy” during a hearing and said to the litigant, “I hope you meet someone just like yourself one day.” It was further alleged that Judge Stokes mocked the litigant’s wife’s physical disability by impersonating her movements, and when the litigant’s daughter tried to explain her mother’s neurological disability, Judge Stokes told her to “shut up.”
Judge Stokes admitted in his response the allegations in the complaint and noted that the litigant and his family interrupted him and were rude toward the opposing party.
The letter reads:
‘The investigative panel decided to impose a public reprimand for the conduct described above, which you have accepted. In imposing this sanction, the panel considered that you previously received a warning concerning a lack of self-control in raising your voice and using intemperate words in court. The panel further noted that you have taken full responsibility for your conduct and that you have fully cooperated with disciplinary counsel throughout this matter.”
Accordingly, the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct decided in favor of the investigative panel’s decision to impose a public reprimand on Judge Casey Mark Stokes.
The Judge’s Courtroom is located at Georgetown, TN 37336-0206. His bio can be found at TNCourts.gov.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
