The Judge and the Stripper
Former 7th Judicial District Special Judge Michael Chionopoulos
Oklahoma County divorce judge Michael Chionopoulos has resigned after a majority of the county’s district judges voted to replace him following allegations of inappropriate behavior with female attorneys, female law students and women with cases before him.
One of the more shocking allegations is that Judge Chionopoulos ordered a female stripper in a child-custody case to deliver to him personally the results of drug tests every Friday.
Steven Holden, the woman’s attorney, was quoted in the media as stating:
“He took her into his office by himself. It’s unethical. No other judge I’ve ever met would ask a litigant into his office and close the door and spend two hours with them while a case is ongoing or afterward, ever.”
Media reports indicated that several female attorneys reported that Judge Chionopoulos would call them repeatedly on their cellular phones, and sometimes late at night. One female attorney, Michelle Roper, was quoted in the media as stating:
“It was just kind of weird. A lot of phone calls, I avoided. The latest one from my cell phone records was 10:30 on a Friday night.”
Other attorneys reported that the judge acted too familiar and flirty with female attorneys and that Chionopoulos treated female attorneys more harshly than male attorneys. Media reports quoted attorney Doug Merritt as saying, “It was strange.”
Commentary and Opinion
It must be pointed out that Judge Chionopoulos has not been accused of any criminal conduct. Thus far the allegations only allege inappropriate behavior. Inappropriate behavior, which if true, is in the opinion of this writer stupid beyond belief and indicative of a ‘dirty old man’, if not an outright criminal.
When we as a society entrust judicial authority to anyone, either by way of the ballot box or through appointment by others duly elected, we have a right to expect them to meet the highest standards of the legal profession and that certainly means not engaging in two-hour sessions with strippers behind closed doors. Nor does it mean ‘hitting upon’ attorneys with late night phone calls.
That the district judges of Oklahoma County voted to fire Judge Chionopoulos is good. That they permitted him to resign in lieu of being fired seems a ‘cop out’. One intended to reduce the embarassment the Oklahoma judiciary would experience in the wake of yet another judicial scandal, such as that of ‘The Masturbating Judge ‘ or the McCurtain County judge that awarded child custody to a convicted sex offender and apparently did so in violation of Oklahoma law.
In the very least a grand jury investigation is in order to determine to what if any extent Judge Chionopoulos used his position of authority and trust to violate the constitutional rights of those citizens and attorneys that appeared before him. A failure to conduct such an investiagtion can only be seen as a ‘cop out’ and coverup.
My children are just one of the cases his conduct was very unprofessional and now my family is suffering from the whole thing. Nor is the court doing anything about the case.
I think its just sad that when the court system fail you, its like what do you do next?
Thanks,
I simply do not understand how in today’s politically sensitive world people can sit around and engage in bashing without the facts. I looked into this matter (as I try to look into all ‘judicial matters’ because I, too, am divorced – AND GOT THE SHAFT). This guy was investigated by the Pentagon, then by the Oklahoma Bar Association. Both investigations revealed that he engaged in no misconduct. Now, if it were just an Oklahoma investigation, I would agree that he could “bubba” it up. I was in the service and I do not know a man or woman alive that “good ol’ boy” the PENTAGON. Typically, they are out to burn you when they start your investigation. That “innocent until proven guilty” thing doesn’t apply to the military. The more rank you have the more they want to “make an example” of you. Printing the allegations is good because it keeps everyone informed, but the problem is that truly innocent people can get caught in a web that is cast too wide. I don’t know if this guy has kids, but I know I’d never want my kids to read something like that about me after I had been cleared. So just act responsibly. It makes your web page more valuable when you have credibility. If done right, you may even be cited as an authoritative source of information someday!! That means, though, that you need to be accurate and not just let things fall through the cracks. If I had not taken the time to dig and dig and dig, I would have totally believed the allegations and that this guy is a dirtbag. He may still be a dirtbag, but it wasn’t proven and isn’t that what we are all seeking here? I didn’t want to be labeled a “deadbeat-dad” and have my kids read about it, but at least once DHS got their fecal matter in one pile I was cleared and taken off their web page.
Bubbaworld, take pride in bringing to light injustices within society and the political power structure of Oklahoma. You are providing a valuable tool for the too few avid readers among us. However, proper checks and balances must be deployed by Bubbaworld or you are creating the very injustices that you loath. Judge Chionopoulos, as an office of the Oklahoma Court AND a decorated Officer of the US Military, withstood one of the most rigorous of all investigation in society, a full blown Pentagon review. No merit of the accusations against Judge Chionopoulos was found. Judge Chionopoulos survived an investigation by the Oklahoma Bar Association, again with no merit being found to the lewd and lascivious allegations that you post on your site. Judge Chionopoulos’ innocence is reconfirmed when Judge Chionopolus was later privilege in becoming a member of the one of the most scrupulous Bar Association in the US (outside of the state of Oklahoma) Bubbaworld, viewed as an organization dedicated to bringing the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth to its readers, misses the mark with this article. Your mission is deteriorating and the service you provide the citizens of Oklahoma compromised by the posting of articles that have no merit. Consideration should be made to rescind the aforementioned article from further publication. Posting inaccurate information to this site causes your readers to question the intentions of this site and depicts a sense of immature/armature reporting, a site where we may find scary fairytales to read at night before bedtime.
YOU’RE ONE SICK BASTARD MY FRIEND !!
I am shoked and dismayed to see this inaccurate story about an innocent man is still maintained by bubbaworld. This is a man who, following the false allegations written above, has gained admission to another state bar. If any of the allegations against him were true, he would have been disbarred, suspended or, at the very least, reprimanded by Oklahoma and would not have been able to gain admission else where. I am a lawyer, and I know all too personally how lies can destroy a person. I was an upstanding lawyer in the community until my wife decided to make allegations that I had mollested my daughter from a previous marriage. Judge Chionopoulos was the only one who believed me. He took visitation away, but he gave me a chance to prove I would never mollest my child. I proved it, thanks to Judge Chionopoulos, and he has proven he did not do those things people accused him of doing. You should, as you say, “shiine the bright light” on those who do dark things, but you should be brave enough to vindicate when the facts show no wrong doing. A decorated war hero is being disparaged. You should do something positive to redeem both you and him.
Now here is something …
As 2008 enters the last quarter and draws near a close, tallying votes for the worst judge in Oklahoma is a strong indicator of how the year will finish. While it is true that there are many poles regarding the Presidential election, there need not be any polls to “call” the race for worst judge in Oklahoma. Even CNN could call this race now without concern. Special Judge Allen J. Welch, Jr. enjoys such a lead that it would take a miracle to beat him.
The American Bar Association, at http://www.courthouseforum.com, provides a place for feedback on judges throughout the country. Judge Welch leads all Oklahoma judges with an astounding 373 votes for worst judge. Voted the second worst judge in Oklahoma is Judge Vicki L. Robertson with 162 votes – a mere 43% of Judge Welch’s lead.
Judge Welch maintains an astounding position – voted 17th worst judge in the United States, including all state and Federal Judges in the US and its Territories. Judge Robertson gives him a decent run, holding down the position as 24th worst judge in the United States. Performance of judicial duties is also graded. On a 4.0 scale, voters graded Judge Welch with a D- or .55 GPA. Judge Robertson’s GPA is reported slightly higher at a D+ with 1.46.
Judge Robertson came close to losing her last judicial bid. A by-hand-recount was required before she could take office. Immediately following her narrow victory, Judge Robertson was voted Presiding District Judge by her peers. The general population – having voted Judge Robertson 2nd worst judge in the entire state – does not share the confidence expressed by the other District Judges.
Next in the worst judicial line-up for Oklahoma County is Judge Ray C. Elliot. He is currently ranked 3rd worst among the Oklahoma County judges with 88 ballots cast in his favor. Judge Elliot served as Oklahoma County’s Presiding District Judge immediately proceeding Judge Robertson’s reign. In the last four years the Presiding Judge position has been held by judges voted the two worst eligible judges in Oklahoma County. Judge Welch’s position does not enable him to be Presiding Judge. It is no wonder that the two worst judges available have been entrusted to lead Oklahoma County when the Oklahoma Supreme Court Chief Justice, Joseph M. Watt, ranks as the 6th worst judge in the State of Oklahoma.
The judiciary is our third branch of government. The decisions made by our judges often have very real impact on our lives. Voters must pay closer attention to the character and abilities of those to whom we entrust justice. If you are the unfortunate person going through a divorce, do you want the worst judge in Oklahoma deciding what happens to your children? If you have a contract or other dispute, do you want the 2nd worse judge in Oklahoma deciding your case? If you are accused of a crime, do you want the 3rd worst judge in Oklahoma County deciding your guilt or innocence? PAY ATTENTION AND VOTE! Living in a Republic means we are held to a higher standard of constituent consciousness. We have a duty to vote into office only those men and women who are God fearing and not covetous.
Look at the article below. It was posted on another blog.
Apology
I am embarassed to come here and say this. I was one of the people who helped to hang this judge. I have been in the courthouse for more than 25 years and I believed what I was being told about this guy. He was good looking and arrogant and it was easy to believe what was being said. Recently, I got some information that proved at least one of the women railing against him lied. I want to apologize to him and to all of you for saying things that were not true. I believed at the time I said them that they were true. I now know at least some of the things being said were lies. I repeaed those lies and am ashamed of doing so. I am very sorry for the people I hurt with untrue gossip. I am sorry.
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