Oregon judge under fire for ethics violations

Judicial misconduct hearings are slated to begin next week in the case against an Oregon judge who is under investigation after refusing to perform same-sex weddings and has been accused of other ethics violations.

The Statesman Journal reports Marion County Circuit Court Judge Vance Day will be heard by the Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability on Nov. 9. The state commission investigates claims of unethical conduct by judges and can recommend sanctions to the Oregon Supreme Court.

The commission has made six allegations against the judge, including that he allowed a convicted felon to handle a firearm, lied to investigators and displayed portraits of political leaders — including Adolf Hitler — with disregard to neutrality. KGW.com Portland reports that Day has also been accused of multiple instances of lying and taking money from lawyers.

According to the commission's Executive Director Susan D. Isaacs, these complaints, if true, violated the Code of Judicial Conduct, which states that judges should act with integrity, impartiality and preserve access to justice. They should also not engage in dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.

Day denies he broke ethics rules and says he's being targeted because of his religious beliefs.

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The Gayly - 11/3/2015 @10:00 a.m. CST