Detroit Judge Reprimanded For Sending Shirtless Photo
DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - A Detroit judge has agreed to a reprimand for sending a shirtless photo of himself to a courthouse employee and telling a reporter, "No shame in my game."
Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree agreed to the punishment in an order released Wednesday by the Michigan Supreme Court. The court says it's accepting the recommendation of a watchdog agency and ordering a public censure.
The justices agreed with the Judicial Tenure Commission that McCree "brought shame ... to the judiciary" with his April comments to WJBK-TV reporter Charlie LeDuff.
McCree sent a cellphone photo of himself to a female sheriff's officer. It shows a very fit judge from the waist up. The officer kept it to motivate her to improve her workouts, but her husband provided a copy to LeDuff.
McCree argued there was nothing sexual involved with the photo. He said the picture was nothing more than how people would see him when he went swimming at the YMCA, but admitted to a lapse in judgement in sending the pic.
After news of the photo circulated through local media outlets and in forums online, McCree issued a public apology, saying he was embarrassed by a "serious mistake."
Last spring, McCree said he turned down an offer to pose for his own a 12-month calendar.
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