Former chapter choose David R. Jones doesn’t like answering questions on his private life. Now, that’s not an absurd response, however if you’re within the midst of an moral scandal and a $23 million lawsuit BECAUSE of a romantic relationship, nicely, that recalcitrance reads a bit in another way.
Jones, the (now former) federal chapter choose, was concerned with Elizabeth Freeman, the (now former) chapter companion of a serious legislation agency — Jackson Walker — and he continued to listen to instances involving that companion/legislation agency. That led to his resignation from the bench and a complete mess of authorized points. Freeman’s former agency is going through litigation to find out in the event that they must disgorge as much as $23 million in charges it collected in instances overseen by Jones.
As a part of the Division of Justice’s effort to claw again these charges, Jones gave a deposition in September of final yr. Bloomberg Legislation reviews Jones was “combative” and exercised his proper towards self-incrimination 100+ occasions, together with in response to such fundamentals as his highest stage of training and if he’s a licensed lawyer.
Jones cited his Fifth Modification proper when requested if his romantic relationship with Freeman began whereas she was on the Texas agency Porter Hedges LLP. He once more cited the Fifth Modification when initially requested if he and Freeman had a monetary relationship, but in addition mentioned no such association existed.
Throughout the tense deposition, Jones retorted that the federal government was “crawling via his private life.” He additionally took the place that Freeman was not part of his “family” (if that’s the case, he would have been required to recuse himself from instances involving Freeman or Jackson Walker) regardless of placing Freeman on the deed to his home.
One other subject that was hotly mentioned was a dialog Jones had with Jackson Walker chapter companion Matthew Cavenaugh about his relationship with Freeman.
Throughout the one-on-one dialog with Cavenaugh, Jones mentioned he alone was required to reveal the connection with Freeman—not the agency. He gave Cavenaugh a proposed disclosure that described Freeman as Jones’ former legislation clerk and mentioned they maintained a “shut private relationship” however didn’t acknowledge the romance nor their shared possession of a house.
Jones mentioned if Cavenaugh was going to reveal a connection between the choose and Freeman, he needed it to be “full.” Jackson Walker finally declined to make use of Jones’ instructed language.
Jones mentioned he was making an attempt to forestall Cavenaugh from “getting himself in hassle by making a disclosure about Freeman and never making a full disclosure about everybody.”
“Looking back, I by no means ought to have completed it,” Jones mentioned. “I used to be making an attempt to assist.”
The previous choose additionally mentioned that in the course of the 2022 dialog, he “in a joking method” might have advised Cavenaugh that if he have been to compelled to reveal anybody he “ever slept with, that may very well be an issue.”
“I most likely did say one thing like that, most likely completely inappropriate,” Jones mentioned. “However I most likely mentioned one thing like that as a result of I assumed this was ridiculous.”
Jones additionally denied that he gave preferential therapy to Jackson Walker, “I by no means favored anyone over something. I did what I assumed was proper.”
One thing tells me Jones’s phrase alone isn’t going to be sufficient to finish the authorized issues his romantic relationship wrought.
Earlier: Who Knew What When? The Newest In The Choose/Associate Romantic Scandal Rocking The Authorized World
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Federal Choose Slams Biglaw Agency, Says Agency ‘Defiled The Very Temple Of Justice’
Biglaw Agency Nonetheless Paying The Value For Former Associate’s Romantic Scandal
Scandal-Ridden Former Federal Choose Seeks To Squash Lawsuit That Began It All
The Wild Moral Lapse That Led To The Resignation Of A High Chapter Choose
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Legislation, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Pondering Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the most effective, so please join along with her. Be at liberty to e mail her with any ideas, questions, or feedback and comply with her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @[email protected].
