Stripper Ruins Judge's Career

(AP) - The Florida Supreme Court has disbarred a
former judge whose esteemed legal career ended amid accusations
about his involvement with a stripper.
According to an order entered Thursday, Thomas E. Stringer has
been disbarred for the next five years. The former appeals court
judge resigned in February after a stripper claimed he helped her
evade creditors by putting her money in his bank accounts.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission dropped its ethics
complaint after he stepped down.
In August, Stringer pleaded guilty to bank fraud. Prosecutors
say Stringer falsified his mortgage application for a home in
Hawaii. He had listed himself as the sole owner, even though he was
jointly investing in the house with the exotic dancer.
Stringer will be sentenced in November.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)