A district judge got a slap on the wrist for asking a female advocate if she was pregnant during a court session. District Judge Stephen Harmes said sorry both during the hearing and afterward.
After looking into it, the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) found that Harmes asked the question because he thought “she was finding the hearing difficult.” He said he wanted to check if she was okay and if she needed more time to go through her papers.
The JCIO spokesperson explained that while Harmes didn’t mean any harm, asking such a personal question could make the advocate feel embarrassed and could offend others. They said by asking that, Harmes didn’t show her the respect she deserved, which goes against the rules. Harmes quickly realized his mistake and said sorry right after the hearing. The JCIO said this was a one-time thing and Harmes also apologized again during the investigation, showing he felt bad about any upset caused. They also pointed out that he’s always been good with people in court before this.
Source: Judge apologises for asking if female advocate was pregnant, JCIO reveals | Law Gazette
