Arkansas judge, accused of improper conduct, quits

LITTLE ROCK—An Arkansas saw judge who was accused Thursday of numerous ethical violations because of alleged alcohol and drug use has resigned, citing his court’s heavy caseload.

District Judge Kenneth Harper in Monticello was threatened with removal from the bench by the state Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission in a document that accused him of abusing his office, harassment, non-cooperation with discipline authorities and other charges.

“Many of the allegations ... are of a serious nature that, if proven, could result in public discipline up to and including removal from office,” the charging document said.

Drew County Judge Damon Lampkin and Harper’s law office confirmed Thursday the judge had resigned.

Harper did not return phone messages left at his office by The Associated Press on Thursday.

Harper was censured by the commission in 2011 for sitting on the bench while intoxicated on several occasions and for being drunk while getting into a public argument about doors and signs in the building where he held court.

“The mere fact of being involved in a public argument while under the influence of alcohol is a sufficient action on your part to bring disrepute to the judiciary and violate the Code of Judicial Conduct,” commission Executive Director David Stewart wrote in a Nov. 18 letter of censure.

The censure required Harper to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings at least once a week, take drugs only as prescribed by a doctor and not drink alcohol or break laws. Before the censure, Harper pleaded guilty to a drunken driving charge and was sentenced to a day in jail.

Stewart’s office accused Harper of drinking alcohol since that censure and otherwise failing to comply with the orders, including failure to attend AA meetings.

A June 27 letter from the Arkansas Judges and Lawyers Assistance program that was included in documents released by the commission shows Harper was not in compliance with his “health monitoring contract” with the organization. Harper was to be tested for alcohol use under the contract.

Other documents released by the commission accuse Harper of patronizing liquor stores and being drunk in public since his censure.

Harper also is accused of letting a convicted felon who was an unlicensed driver use his vehicle and of living with a female friend who was convicted of criminal and traffic offenses in his court.

Had the case put forth Thursday gone forward, Harper would have been tried before a panel of the commission. Barring a settlement, any discipline recommended by the commission would have to have been approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court.