Judge publicly reprimanded by Oklahoma Supreme Court for ‘indefensible’ conduct

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a Tulsa county judge, saying her conduct was “indefensible” and reflected a lack of impulse control and judgment.

The state’s high court though did not order Tulsa County District Judge Sharon Holmes to face removal proceedings as had been recommended by a state agency that investigated the complaints, according to an order released Monday.

Holmes, 67, on Tuesday declined to comment.

Holmes was accused of having improper ex parte communications with jurors and a criminal defendant appearing before her without others present, which “created the appearance of impropriety, undermining the public’s confidence in the independence, integrity and impartiality of the judiciary,” the Supreme Court said.

On three occasions, she ignored sentencing guidelines and allowed defendants to enter programs for which they were not eligible, according to the Council on Judicial Complaints report.

In another instance, she yelled at a public defender and was observed as “very hostile and very nasty,” according to the Court.

A report by the Council on Judicial Complaints, a state agency that investigates complaints against judges, also included an incident where “Holmes left the bench and approached an agitated defendant with her fists raised as if she was going to fight him.”

“Judge Holmes’ behavior in these instances was undignified, and her conduct displayed a lack of temperament required of a judge,” the Oklahoma Supreme Court said.

The Council report said Holmes failed to be candid and honest with investigators, and her testimony contradicted the evidence.

But while the allegations were serious, they do not establish that Holmes’ conduct was an excessive use of judicial authority, the court wrote.

The Council on Judicial Complaints had issued a non-binding recommendation that Holmes be brought before the Council on the Judiciary for removal proceedings.

Holmes, a former assistant district attorney, was first sworn into judicial office in 2015 and won reelections.

She was most recently elected unopposed for another term.