By Phil Williams
Chief Investigative Reporter
Nashville General Sessions Judge Gloria Dumas has been reprimanded by the court that regulates Tennessee judges.
This follows ethics charges filed against her after a NewsChannel 5 investigation that began in 2008.
In an agreement with the Court of the Judiciary, Dumas accepted a public reprimand for hiring her own daughter as a court officer -- in violation of nepotism rules.
"Your conduct in this matter has detrimentally affected the integrity of the Tennessee Judiciary and undermines public confidence in the administration of justice," Presiding Judge Don Ash wrote in the reprimand.
Our investigation also spotted Dumas being repeatedly late for court.
In the settlement agreement, she agreed to let another judge monitor her attendance for 90 days. If she demonstrates that she can show up for court -- on time -- during that period, another ethics charge filed against her will be dismissed.
A third count, which alleged that she failed to follow rules in appointing substitute judges, was dismissed as part of the settlement.
But one member of the Court of the Judiciary, Judge Thomas Woodall, objected to the settlement that allowed Dumas to avoid going on trial later this month.
"I wish to make clear that I am not saying in this dissent that the disposition approved by the majority of the hearing panel is too severe. Neither am I declaring that the disposition is too lenient," Woodall wrote in a dissent.
"I am simply of the opinion that this case is one of those cases that should be resolved only after a full trial."
