The measure has the backing of Governor Lynch and comes just days before the Supreme Court weighs whether a censure and 3 month suspension is proper punishment for Patricia Coffey’s admitted role in shielding her husband’s assets from creditors during his 2005 disbarment.
After being rumored for weeks, the Bill of Address was formally broached today before the house rules committee. The measure’s sponsor, Salem Republican DJ Bettencourt asked the committee to waive legislative deadlines and allow the bill in because the panel changed with disciplining Coffey had been too lenient.
"The committee, having done its work and investigation, came up with a recommendation for discipline that we, and quite a few members of the media and the Governor found insufficient."
The measure’s co-sponsor, Hudson Republican Andrew Renzullo followed up by stressing that short of resignation, getting Patricia Coffey off the bench for good would require legislative action.
"The Supreme judicial court can move forward with certain disciplinary actions, but cannot remove a sitting judge. So the ball is in our court."
And in this case, that court, is'nt simply the House and Senate but also the Governor and Council…….Karen Wadsworth has overseen three bills of during her years as house clerk. She says the measure’s likely first stop after drafting will be a special panel selected by the House Speaker and Senate President.
"Historically, it has been referred to a joint committee that has held hearings and work sessions and reported back, and they report back in one of two ways -- ought to pass or ought not to pass."
The measure would next be put to votes before the full House and Senate. If it won majorities in both chambers, it would then move on to the Governor and Executive Council Lynch administration spokesman Colin Manning says the Governor, believes patricia Coffey has breached the public trust, and needs to step down.
"If Judge Coffey fails to do the right thing and resign, the Governor feels her removal through a bill of address is appropriate."
In the meantime, Judge Coffey, who’s been on paid leave since late summer, goes before the supreme court on Wednesday hoping for what her her lawyer Russ Hilliard has termed an "appropriate resolution." Last year, Coffey and Hilliard argued a public censure fit that bill. More recently, they’ve told the court that a 3-month suspension was “not inappropriate.” When asked about bill of address, Hilliard pointed to a statement that says "no one involved in the commencement, investigation, prosecution or resolution of her case has ever suggested her removal or resignation is necessary or appropriate.”
