Judge of the Day: Kevin P. Moriarty

Kimberly and Kevin Ireland, of Kansas, decided in 2007 to file for a divorce. Their case was mediated by state judge Kevin Moriarty. Things did not go well from there.
From a pro se complaint [PDF] against Moriarty posted at Courthouse News Service:

Defendant Moriarty used the word “f*&%” during the mediation… Defendant Moriarty discussed plaintiff Ireland’s female undergarments and referred to the same as “panties” during the mediation… Defendant Moriarty discussed plaintiff Ireland’s sex life during the mediation.

According to Kathy Ireland, none of this was relevant to the mediation. But Moriarty thought it was important. And exciting:

Defendant Moriarty appeared to be masturbating during the mediation.

It all sounds pretty crazy, right? But Ireland’s ex-husband is actually backing her up on this.


Despite any hard feelings over the divorce, Kevin Ireland testified in support of his ex-wife’s story:

Plaintiff Ireland’s ex-husband testified during the trial of the divorce that defendant Moriarty’s behavior during the mediation may have been offensive to others.

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UPDATE / CORRECTION: Kevin Ireland now tells ATL that he doesn’t support his wife’s lawsuit and “never had issue with anything the judge did during our mediation.”
Kathy Ireland filed a complaint with the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications. That did not help matters. From Courthouse News Service:

In response to her complaint, she says, Moriarty launched his own investigation into her private life and discussed her with the judge presiding over her divorce case and with the opposing counsel. Ireland claims Moriarty used his power to influence her divorce proceeding, to start an ethical investigation of her and to have court personnel write false letters to the commission attacking her and claiming that Moriarty did nothing wrong.
On Nov. 15, 2007, the Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications filed an ethical complaint against Ireland, claiming she made false accusations about Moriarty, though it never conducted an investigation into her claims, according to her complaint.

This would not be the first time a state judge got frisky beneath his robes. Longtime ATL readers certainly remember Oklahoma judge Donald Thompson. Thompson was more creative in his treatment of the judicial junk, though; he invested in a penis pump to leave both hands free for Lady Justice.
Lawyer Says Judge Masturbated at Mediation & Carried Out Vendetta When She Complained [Courthouse News Service]

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