The (dis)Honorable Judge John C. Stritehoff, Jr., ladies and gentleman.

Law clerk's complaint dismissed

Retired judge was accused of sexual harassment. He kissed the woman.

Express-Times, The (Easton, PA)-May 22, 1999 / Author: WILLIAM GUHL

       TRENTON - The state Supreme Court on Friday reprimanded a retired Warren County Superior Court judge for kissing his law clerk, but dismissed the clerk's sexual harassment complaint against the judge. 

      Retired Judge John Stritehoff Jr., who retired in May 1998, was reprimanded for "conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute." 

       A law clerk who worked for Stritehoff from 1997 to 1998 claimed that the judge on numerous occasions kissed her against her will, discussed intimate matters with her and often asked if she was thinking of him. 

       She filed a complaint with an assistant trial court administrator in January 1998. 

       Stritehoff denied the allegations, but admitted kissing the clerk on the lips to congratulate her on passing the bar exam and to wish her happy holidays at Christmastime in 1997.

       The Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct reviewed the clerk's complaint and held hearings.
       According to the committee, others who worked in the judge's Belvidere office were unable to corroborate some of the clerk's charges and they offered contradictory testimony.
       The committee found the testimony constituted "far more than a mere lack of corroboration of her testimony," according to court records.
       The committee decided the clerk's charges did not meet the "requisite standard of clear and convincing evidence."
       The state Supreme Court on Friday adopted the committee's findings and dismissed the sexual harassment complaint. But the Supreme Court also ruled the 70-year-old from Frelinghuysen Township should be publicly reprimanded.
       Stritehoff's attorney, Harold T. McGovern, said the reprimand came as a result of the judge's kissing the clerk, who wasn't named in court paperwork.
       "The things that he had admitted anyway is why he got the reprimand," McGovern said. On the other charges, McGovern said the committee "didn't believe her and they dismissed her complaint."
       McGovern said Stritehoff has acknowledged that kissing the clerk when she passed the bar and at Christmastime was not appropriate for a judge.
       "He kissed her, he said he did it in a fatherly way, but it was inappropriate and he admitted it right from the beginning," McGovern said.
       The advisory committee held a formal hearing in November 1998.
       In its opinion, the committee said "it makes no difference that she did not object or that (Stritehoff's) motivation was not sexual in nature, as (Stritehoff) has maintained all along. Such conduct by a judge toward a law clerk is unacceptable and calls for disciplinary action ..."
       After filing the complaint, the clerk expressed a desire to complete her work with the judge's office. Officials told her to notify them immediately if problems persisted. On April 30, 1998, she contacted the trial administrator and said she was uncomfortable working with Stritehoff, according to court records.
       She was allowed to complete her work from home until the judge's  retirement in May. She now works as a probate attorney in Florida.
       McGovern called the reprimand an unfortunate situation.
       "I've known this gentleman all my legal life, and have represented members of his family and they are a very demonstrative, loving group," he said. "But you can't treat law clerks the way you treat your daughter."
       McGovern said he and Stritehoff are satisfied with the findings.
       "I don't think they could have found any other way," he said. The advisory committee had recommended a private reprimand. But the Supreme Court ruled that "in light of its independent review of the record ... the factual findings of the Committee warrant the imposition of a public reprimand."
       McGovern said he was hoping the reprimand would have remained private, but he believes the reprimand was made public in part to send a message to others that such conduct is not acceptable.
       Stritehoff served as a Superior Court judge from 1986 to 1998. Before that, he was a municipal court judge for 19 years.
     Section: StatePage: A1
Index Terms: Sentence
Dateline: TRENTON
Record Number: et19994277f2f112 Copyright 1999, 2008 The Express-Times. All Rights Reserved.