CONCORD, N.H. -- A New Hampshire judge who was suspended for groping five women at a conference on sexual assault and domestic violence resigned on Wednesday, the same day a committee recommended he not get his job back.
I wish to again express my apologies to those who have been impacted by my inappropriate conduct, Judge Franklin Jones wrote in a two-page letter to Gov. John Lynch.
A Judicial Conduct Committee concluded that Jones' groping of five victim's advocates of his court demeaned his judicial office and cast reasonable doubt in the eyes of the public on his continuing capacity to act in an impartial manner.
Jones, 56, was suspended in May. In September, he pleaded no contest to simple assault, reduced from sexual assault charges. He spent a week receiving alcohol abuse treatment.
Joan Sergio, the only one of Jones' accusers who has not quit, said she was relieved by the committee's decision. I certainly don't want to nail Mr. Jones to the wall, but I think they're doing the right thing, Sergio said.
A call to Jones' lawyer Wednesday was not immediately returned.
Late-night partying at the conference also led to Attorney General Peter W. Heeds resignation after an investigation was launched into whether he inappropriately touched a woman on the dance floor.
