Judge Apologizes at Misconduct Hearing

A suspended county judge admitted to signing court papers with names like Adolf Hitler, using profanity in describing other judges and throwing lighted firecrackers into a colleague’s office. Judge Richard “Deacon” Jones said during testimony in his judicial misconduct hearing that he was acting out of frustration with his colleagues. The 10-year veteran judge was suspended with pay by the state Supreme Court in November. Jones apologized for setting off the fireworks and for sending a death threat to a fellow judge.