Bankruptcy judge John Olson of Ft. Lauderdale; ethical misfit

The state of Florida presented Duane A. Kennedy with a law license in 1975 after he graduated from Boston College Law School.

Over the course of eighteen (18) months, Johnny ordered two people arrested, ordered sanctions or sanction hearings involving three attorneys, and resisted at least two requests that he remove himself from individual matters. (South FloridaBusiness Journal)

In addition to the above, a higher court overturned one of Johnny’s decisions in a major case involving some of Wall Street’s top law firms. Although most attorneys are very reluctant to comment on a judge’s integrity or competency for fear of retribution, attorney and law professor Robert Jarvis wasn’t one of them when he said:

• “I think very clear that this is a judge who has been having a very difficult year or 18 months.”
• “The question is: Is this a judge who has developed a thin skin and questionable judgment, or is it bad luck?”

Some have suggested that Johnny’s questionable conduct came about at the same time that he engaged and then married attorney Steven Fender, which appears to be the first gay marriage involving a federal judge.

As we speak (ca. October 2015), Johnny continues to sit as a bankruptcy judge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.