Misconduct Complaint Against Federal Appeals Court Judge Dropped

Following a year-long secret investigation, a ruling body of federal judges has dropped misconduct charges against Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Edith Jones. She was accused in 2013 of improperly discussing pending death row cases and discriminatory public statements during a speech at the University of Pennsylvania, allegedly mocking the appeals of mentally disabled and Mexican-born defendants, and suggesting African Americans and Hispanics were more likely to commit crimes. But the three-judge and court-appointed attorney panel concluded that there was not enough evidence to justify disciplining Jones.