York County voters should not embarass themselves by electing Robert Nadeau to another term as York County Probate Judge.

Mr. Nadeau is currently suspended as Probate Judge, without pay, by order of the Maine Supreme Court. York County has to bring in judges from other counties to keep the Probate Court operating during his absence.

According to the unanimous opinion of the Supreme Court, he was suspended because “he exploited his judicial office for personal gain. “He gratitouusly invoked his position of judicial and public proiminence to advance his personal objective of settling (a private lawsuit) on his terms.” Mr. Nadeau had threatened the attorney of a former girlfriend, writing that “…this is going to become very bad for your client, you and your law firm,” following that that statement with a reference to his position as a judge.

In suspending Nadeau, the Court said: “Our determination here that Judge Nadeau has violated the code demonstrates that the prior corrective efforts have not been effective in dissuading him from engaging in intemperate conduct…” The Court was referring to several instances of prior misconduct.

Judge Nadeau has been suspended before. In 2007, the Supreme Court censured and suspended him for lying about a political opponent.

In 2006, he was found guilty of three separate, serious violations of Maine Bar Rules and given a public reprimand.

In 2005, the Board of Bar Overseers recommended that Judge Nadeau be suspended or disbarred for having sexual relations with a client.

Also in 2005, the Board found that Nadeau intentionally violated the rules after two female attorneys working for his law firm left and sued him. The Board said that Nadeau “showed no remorse for his conduct, and that (he) would be likely to repeat such misconduct in the future should he conclude that it was to his advantage to do so.”

York County deserves better than this. Vote for someone else.

Barbara Dean

Wells