Lying under oath. Twisting court decisions for personal gain. Misuse of public money. And corruption in the judiciary that went all the way to Vermont’s highest court.
It may sound like the latest legal thriller, but it's the true story that rocked the state in the 1980s, ending with an investigation that saw the first-ever felony charges brought against a Vermont judge.
Retired Burlington attorney James Dunn's book Breach of Trust: The Ethics Scandal That Challenged the Integrity of the Vermont Judiciary tells the story of Chittenden County Assistant Judge Jane Wheel, and how an investigation into her misconduct ultimately led to two dozen ethics violations brought against three Vermont Supreme Court justices.
Dunn talked with Vermont Edition about Judge Wheel, the investigation and the challenges it posed to Vermont's legal system.
Dunn is discussing his new book at Rutland's Phoenix Books on Thursday, Oct. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
Broadcast on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2018 at noon; rebroadcast at 7 p.m.
