An Iowa City judge received his punishment this morning for having a secret relationship with a prosecutor and for taking slow action on cases.The Iowa Supreme Court gave Judge Stephen Gerard the second a 60-day suspension without pay. The ruling says the case raises issues of bias, improper influence and impartiality, causing the integrity of the court and judicial system to suffer. Gerard had a secret sexual relationship with an assistant county attorney, and their relationship was conducted in the county courthouse. The judicial misconduct also involved several cases in which Gerard was late in issuing rulings. Gerard will begin serving his suspension Monday; he turns 51 today.
