The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has suspended a York County probate judge for violating judicial conduct.
This is the third time Robert Nadeau has been disciplined.
The latest violation stems from a personal legal case. In 2013, Nadeau sought protection from harassment against a former girlfriend. While the case was pending, Nadeau wrote a letter to his former girlfriend’s attorney that warned the ongoing litigation would “become very bad” for the ex-girlfriend, the attorney and the attorney’s law firm. Nadeau also referred to his position as a probate judge in the letter.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court found that Nadeau’s letter conveyed a threatening tone, and that he improperly invoked his status as a judge for personal gain. In its decision, the Court says that he violated the judicial code of conduct. As a result, Nadeau has received a formal reprimand and will be suspended from the bench for 30 days.
This is the third time Nadeau has been found to violate professional ethical standards. In 2006, he was reprimanded as a private attorney for making degrading comments to a judge. In 2007, he was reprimanded and suspended from the bench for 30 days after he lied about an opponent during a campaign for judicial office.
