An Oregon state judge has been put on leave after he was placed under investigation for allegedly using sexist and derogatory terms to refer to two female colleagues, a prosecutor and a fellow judge.
A judicial fitness complaint was filed against Marion County Circuit Judge Channing Bennett in connection to 'serious allegations of misconduct', Laura Kerns, spokesperson for the Oregon Judicial Department, told the Daily Mail.
Kerns did not provide any specifics about the alleged wrongdoing, nor did she reveal who filed the complaint. She added that the state has hired an outside law firm to investigate the matter.
According to an anonymous source who spoke to The Oregonian, the alleged behavior that led to the complaint against Bennett occurred last month on the second day of an Oregon Circuit Court Judges Association conference at Sunriver Resort.
During a social hour, Marion County judges and lawyers were discussing a possible opening on the circuit court bench, according to the source.
In that conversation, the source said Bennett used a four-letter misogynistic profanity to insult a female prosecutor who was interested in the role. This prosecutor was not present.
After that, the source said Bennett then called a female judge who was in the room another derogatory word. The source added that it was unclear which judge he allegedly directed this vulgarity toward since there were multiple female judges in the vicinity.
The source said people were stunned and began to move away from Bennett. The source could not say if he was drinking alcohol at the event.
Marion County Circuit Judge Channing Bennett has been put on leave after he allegedly used sexist and derogatory terms against two female colleagues, a prosecutor and a fellow judge
He has worked at the Marion County Circuit Court (pictured) since 2013 before he was appointed to his seat on the bench in 2016 by then-Governor Kate Brown
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson (pictured) told The Oregonian her office is aware of the allegations and said Bennett's alleged statements were directed at multiple members of the justice system
A second source that spoke to The Oregonian said Bennett also disparaged a male judge.
Marion County District Attorney Paige Clarkson told the outlet her office was made aware of the incident at the resort days after the judicial conference.
'It is my understanding … that the vulgar and inappropriate comments were not restricted to a prosecutor in my office but also extended to other members of the justice system as well,' Clarkson said in a statement.
It's not clear when Bennett will return. He has worked at the Marion County Circuit Court since 2013 before he was appointed to his seat on the bench in 2016 by then-Governor Kate Brown. Since then, he has won two elections to keep his seat.
His current term will expire on December 31, 2028.
Prior to his current position, Bennett practiced law at a civil firm in Salem. In 2010, he became a pro tem judge.
The Daily Mail approached Bennett for comment via phone and email.