Revelation of judge’s obscene web site prompts calls for resignation

Washington D.C., Jun 15, 2008 / 12:07 pm

Concerned Women for America has called for the resignation of a federal judge in California whose explicit website was exposed while he presided over an obscenity trial.

 

Alex Kozinski, chief judge of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, admitted to the Los Angeles Times that he posted sexually explicit pictures and videos to his website.  A prosecutor had requested a delay in a case to determine whether the court had a conflict of interest in the prosecution of one Ira Isaacs for distributing fetish videos featuring acts of bestiality and defecation.

 

According to the Los Angeles Times, Judge Kozinski’s website includes images of self-abuse, public sex, a transsexual strip tease, naked women painted and posed as cows, and a half-dressed man with a sexually-aroused farm animal.

 

Kozinski defended himself saying that the site was never meant to be public and that his adult son, Yale, had taken over the responsibilities of uploading content.

 

The Times also reported that Kozinski wrote in an email to Abovethelaw.com, a legal news website, “Yale called and said he's pretty sure he uploaded a bunch of it.  I had no idea, but that sounds right because I sure don't remember putting some of that stuff there."

 

Several years ago, Judge Kozinski led an effort to remove filters denying appeals court computers access to pornography. He told the Los Angeles Times that he began saving sexually explicit materials on his website several years ago and would pass items he found interesting or funny on to others.

 

"Judge Kozinski's admission to maintaining a website with explicit and degrading pictures is enough to determine that he is morally incapable of providing objective judgment, especially over obscenity cases. Judge Kozinski must resign," said Wendy Wright, President of Concerned Women for America, in a press release.

 

Wright said that if the judge refuses to resign, Congress should begin impeachment proceedings against him and the Department of Justice should investigate him.

 

"For Judge Kozinski to remain not only as a judge but as the chief judge of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals would make a mockery of justice and of our justice system. If he has any respect for the judiciary, for the law, and for America he would remove himself from this honorable position," Wright said.