Tardy judge receives public reprimand for hiring daughter

The Tennessee Court of the Judiciary has approved an agreed order of settlement in Judge Gloria Dumas’ disciplinary matter.

As a result of the order, filed Friday, Dumas will receive a public reprimand acknowledging that the Davidson County General Sessions Court judge engaged in nepotism by hiring her daughter for a 10-month span in 2005-2006.

The formal charges, brought last September by the Disciplinary Counsel of the Court of the Judiciary, also alleged Dumas was frequently late to the bench and wrongfully appointed special judges to attend her docket in her absence.

The first count alleging lateness has been retired and would be dismissed in 90 days following another judge’s independent certification of Dumas’ court practices. The second count in the formal charges, alleging the use of special judges was dismissed.

Dumas will remain a judge in good standing, and there will be no remediation, suspension or other sanction.

“I am proud of my tenure on the bench, and I am pleased that the court has appropriately dismissed the allegation concerning appointment of special judges,” Dumas said through her attorney at Jones Hawkins & Farmer PLC.

“And I am completely confident that it will also dismiss the remaining charge after independent review. I welcome this review because I strongly believe that I run my court in an appropriate and timely fashion,” the statement continued. “Regarding the nepotism charge, which I reported to the court, I accept the reprimand. I have always and will continue to take responsibility for that.”