In March of 2021, Timothy Henderson, an Oklahoma County District Judge, resigned following multiple complaints regarding sexual misconduct levied by three female attorneys. Before his resignation, he had been suspended for a few days due to these allegations.
During a subsequent investigation into the matter, KFOR reported that Henderson claimed that his relationships with two of the women had been consensual. Nonetheless, there remained a cloud of doubt over his professional conduct.
In an evidentiary hearing held in November 2021, Henderson maintained that his judicial decisions had been impartial, stating, “My rulings were fair and supported by the evidence and facts presented by the attorneys,”. Notwithstanding, multiple convictions were called into question in the aftermath, with notably, a murder conviction being overturned due to his relationship with the prosecutor handling the case.
Earlier in 2021, the Oklahoma Bar Association initiated disciplinary proceedings against Henderson, with a hearing scheduled to occur the following month. However, rather than continuing with this process, Henderson chose to resign from his bar membership, a move he described as “tantamount to disbarment”. He acknowledged that his actions had brought disgrace to the legal profession and were detrimental to the administration of justice.
Henderson will be eligible to apply for reinstatement in five years’ time, following his resignation.
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