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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsPolice & CourtsReport: Former Judge and Senator Allegedly Sexually Harassed Colleagues

Report: Former Judge and Senator Allegedly Sexually Harassed Colleagues

 

While investigators were reviewing an employee’s sexual harassment complaint against then-Magistrate Judge Miguel A. Camacho, a second court staff member came forward with a similar allegation, court documents allege.

The Commission On Judicial Conduct found Camacho “engaged in serious acts of misconduct,” according to records released Wednesday, including abuse of office, harassment based on sex or gender, and violating the Virgin Islands Model Code of Judicial Conduct, amongst other offenses.

The V.I. Superior Court finished its first investigation into Camacho’s alleged harassment of an employee on March 1, 2021, sending its report to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel two days later. On March 5, after a second allegation by a court staff member, Judge Harold Hillocks filed a formal grievance on behalf of both employees against Camacho.

Camacho was up for reappointment to the judiciary when his term expired June 29, 2021. Hillock asked for public comment in an April 29 statement, as required by law. Hillock’s office has not yet responded to a V.I. Source request to review those documents.

On May 6 the commission asked that Camacho be suspended. On June 18 Camacho told the commission he would not be renewed as a judge. Eleven days later he agreed to disciplinary action. This included classes on sexual misconduct in the workplace and a public reprimand.

Camacho has a long career in public office, including serving as a V.I. legislator for St. Croix in 1997-1998 where he was chairman of the Committee on Rules and the Judiciary. His resume includes jobs as assistant attorney general in the V.I. Department of Justice, assistant legal counsel to the 1989-90 Legislature of the Virgin Islands, legal counsel to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, and a stint with the Office of the Territorial Public Defender.

He was first appointed a magistrate judge in 2009, a role he kept until summer 2021. Most recently he’s served as litigation director of Legal Services of the Virgin Islands, a non-profit organization that provides legal services to low-income people.

 

 

 

 

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