Kansas City News
POSTED: 6:15 pm CDT September 30, 2009
UPDATED: 6:39 pm CDT September 30, 2009
OLATHE, Kan. -- A complaint has been filed in federal court against a Johnson County judge.
Kimberly Ireland claims that during divorce proceedings two years ago, Judge Kevin Moriarty "appeared to be masturbating behind the bench," while he acted as a mediator between Ireland and her ex-husband, Kevin Ireland.
Ireland, who is being investigated for making false claims against a judge, spoke to KCTV5 about what the suit alleges.
Ireland said in a complaint filed this week that the judge also used profanity, yelled at her and used her underwear as an example when they were discussing the difference between marital property and personal property.
Ireland complained to the Commission on Judicial Qualifications about the judge at the time of the mediation, but she said little action was taken. The commission investigated at the time and found Ireland's claims to be unsubstantiated.
Court documents state that there were two other individuals in the courtroom for a majority of the mediation proceeding along with Ireland and her ex-husband -- a court reporter and the judge's administrative assistant. All three, including Kevin Ireland who was in the room for the entire proceeding, said they did not see the judge masturbating or using profanity repeatedly.
In a letter written to the commission, Moriarty said:
"I can assure you at no time was I ever acting in the role of a judge, using profanity repeatedly, directing the word f--- to her, discussing her sex life or her panties, or in any way intentionally intimidating her or attempting to sexually harass her. For her to say 'the majority of the time we were in the courtroom, it appeared as if judge Moriarty was masturbating under the bench,' is a complete lie."
Moriarty also said in the letter that he believed her reasons for making the claims were to embarrass and humiliate him. And he believes the reasons were more the work of her law partner, Aaron McKee, who has said has appeared before him numerous times.
The chief judge spoke on behalf of Moriarty who did not wish to comment.
"To give these outrageous allegations against a well respected judge on the 10th Judicial bench any notoriety is a severe disservice to the judge," the chief judge said.
Ireland is currently being investigated by the Board for the Discipline of Attorneys for making false claims of a serious nature against a judge. She will appear in a hearing and could be disbarred.
