A former State Supreme Court justice who abruptly resigned two years ago is now the subject of a federal lawsuit, filed by a former secretary.
As first reported in the “Democrat and Chronicle,” the suit claims former Justice Matthew Rosenbaum forced the woman to perform oral sex on him, and raped her at her home in November of 2006.
At the time, the plaintiff was Rosenbaum’s secretary and in a custody battle for her child which the judge allegedly used as leverage over her. The suit alleges the judge told the plaintiff that the sex acts were part of her job.
The plaintiff says in her suit that she told Rosenbaum she would no longer comply with his demands, but the former judge continued to have unwanted physical contact with her.
The lawsuit further alleges the plaintiff tried to bring claims against Rosenbaum, with other judges and with various agencies, but no action was taken. Finally, allegations about the judge’s conduct reached the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which found he made improper and abusive physical demands of court staff and created a hostile work environment. The judge then resigned.