The board that oversees the ethical conduct of judges in Tennessee has taken the unusual step of announcing it has opened an investigation into Nashville Judge Casey Moreland.
The Board of Judicial Conduct usually keeps its investigations confidential.
But in a statement released late Thursday, board chair Chris Craft said "continued silence by the Board would be detrimental to the public interest."
"Therefore," he added, "I find it necessary at this time to confirm that an investigation is in progress."
Craft pointed to the numerous media reports about Judge Moreland that have surfaced in the last "couple of weeks."
NewsChannel 5 Investigates obtained thousands of text messages between Judge Moreland and a woman with whom he was having an affair.
They reveal that Judge Moreland intervened on the woman's behalf when she was pulled over by Metro Police in a traffic stop last June.
Media reports have also focused on a police investigation into the suicide of a woman last May.
The police report contains allegations that another woman had sex with Moreland in his chambers in order to get favorable treatment in a DUI.
The police investigation also details a trip to the Gulf Coast with Moreland, two attorneys and three women who had appeared in the judge's court at some point in the past.
On Wednesday, state Sen. Mike Bell, who is the chairman of the Senate's Government Operations Committee, said he believes Judge Moreland should resign. Bell's committee oversees the Board of Judicial Conduct.
"He should either voluntarily step off the bench or there should be a movement to remove him from the bench," the Riceville Republican said.
Board Chair Chris Craft said in his statement that if, during its investigation, "the Board finds evidence of behavior that may be criminal in nature, the Board will inform the appropriate law enforcement agency and will attempt to continue to conduct its own investigation in such a way as not to interfere with the criminal investigation."
The Board has not said how long its investigation into Judge Moreland will take.
Once it is complete, he will have 30 days to respond.
If the Board determines there is a violation it can take several different steps against a judge.
They include issuing a public censure or recommending that Tennessee General Assembly remove the judge.
Removing a judge would require the approval of both the House and Senate by a two-thirds margin.
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NC5 Investigates: Disorder in the Court
