Naked before the law?

Joesph Boeckmann, 69, from Arkansas is alleged to have exchanged sexual favours for more lenient sentences.

He was suspended last November pending an investigation by the Arkansas Supreme Court but issued a denial in December.

The Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission has now produced documents showing more than 1,000 images of naked or partially naked defendants from Boeckmann’s computer, with at least 3,000 more expected to be found.

A number of the photos are believed to have been taken at the judge’s house.

A letter from the commission to Boeckmann’s lawyers states: “They all depict young men, many naked who are in various poses inside the judge’s home and outside in his yard.”

It added many appeared before him as defendants and received cheques from him.

The letter also alleges that the judge practiced bondage on men, stating: “There are numerous photos of naked young men bending over after an apparent paddling… The paddle appears in photographs and has been identified by witnesses as belonging to the judge.”

It also requested the judge not to destroy the paddle.

In some cases the men were told they had to undertake community service – at the judge’s home.