MONTGOMERY CO., Kan. (KOAM) - A veteran judge in the Kansas judicial community, Judge F. William Cullins, has been issued a cease and desist letter by the Kansas Commission on
I fully admit I have a warped sense of humor and it hasn’t helped that I’ve read way too many legal opinions. So I could be way off-base here, but I think I’ve found a really hilarious appellate ruling for your entertainment pleasure.
Check out this recent 37-page ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court called
In the Matter of F. William Cullins, District Judge that goes into some detail on the issue of whether to discipline a foul-mouthed judge.
I can’t go into all the details here, but I have so many thoughts and questions about this case.
March 9, 2021 at 3:19 PM
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Judge F. William Cullins, chief judge for the Fourteenth Judicial District in Kansas, describes himself as “salty.” In a recent 37-page disciplinary opinion, the Supreme Court of Kansas determined that it went a bit further than that.
Like, a
lot further than that.
And yet, the final punishment a one-year suspension is reducible to a mere 60 days if the judge drafts an acceptable proposal for a workplace training program. It’s an accommodation that seems fair when you’re on page 1 of the per curiam opinion… much less so by the time you reach page 10. And downright bonkers by the time you’re at page 36.
Judge with salty personality gets suspension partly for F-bombs, says word is common in his region
Judge F. William Cullins of Montgomery County, Kansas. Photo from the Kansas Judicial Branch.
A Kansas judge who dropped F-bombs and refused to “f- - -ing apologize” to one employee subjected to one of his outbursts has been suspended from the bench for “quite troubling” behavior.
The Kansas Supreme Court suspended Judge F. William Cullins of Montgomery County, Kansas, in a Feb. 26 opinion, report the Associated Press, the Wichita Eagle and the Legal Profession Blog.
The court concluded that a one-year suspension was appropriate but said some or all of the suspension could be stayed after 60 days if Cullins comes up with a plan for appropriate training and counseling.
Kansas judge suspended for frequent F-bombs, sexism; called Black men boy in court Dion Lefler, The Wichita Eagle
Feb. 26 A Kansas judge has been suspended from his duties for a year, after court workers and defendants complained of multiple incidents of obscenity-laced harassment and use of derogatory terms for women and African Americans.
The Kansas Supreme Court took that action Friday against Montgomery County Judge F. William Cullins. Although the suspension is for a year, he could be back on the bench in 60 days if he enters a training and counseling program approved by the Office of Judicial Administration.
Evidence shows Cullins frequently and abusively dropped F-bombs in his conversations with court staff and others and referred to females by vulgarities. He also created a perception of race bias in his court in his handling of criminal charges against African-American student athletes, the Supreme Court ruled.