Judge charged with obstructing justice

VERNAL — A judge in charge of handing out justice here has been charged with obstructing it.

Cleopatra "Pat" McRae, 65, was charged with obstructing justice, a class A misdemeanor, on Feb. 13 by the Duchesne County Attorney's Office. However, McRae — the city justice court judge — was not formally served with a summons to appear in court until Thursday.

Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham has placed McRae on paid administrative leave because of the charge filed against her.

The case was investigated by the Naples Police Department at the request of the Uintah County Attorney's Office to avoid any conflict of interest.

McRae is accused of harboring or concealing a person from law enforcement, according to charging documents. According to multiple sources, that person is McRae's son, Darwin Chew, whom police were seeking after he allegedly skipped out on a taxi cab fare in late December.

Duchesne County prosecutors were expected to file one class B misdemeanor count of theft of services against Chew, 40, in Naples City Justice Court on Monday.

The Uintah Basin Standard filed a public records request seeking a copy of the police report on the incident that led to the charge against McRae. That request is being reviewed by the Naples city attorney.

Vernal City Manager Ken Bassett said Friday that he had spoken with McRae, the city's justice court judge since the mid-90s, and with Mayor Allan Mashburn separately about the situation.

McRae, who is appointed to the bench by the mayor with the advice and consent of the City Council, typically holds court on Tuesdays. Bassett said court has been postponed indefinitely until city leaders can find someone to hear cases in McRae's absence.

Nancy Volmer, spokeswoman for the Administrative Office of the State Courts, said state law requires the chief justice to place any judge charged with a class A misdemeanor or felony on administrative leave. The chief justice has the discretion to decide whether the leave is paid or unpaid, Volmer said.

A request has already been made for an outside judge to preside over McRae's case. Eighth District Court Clerk Joanne McKee said the request was made based on the likelihood that Judge A. Lynn Payne and Judge John R. Anderson would recuse themselves from the case due to their professional association with McRae.

McRae's initial court appearance is set for March 2.

E-MAIL: geoff@ubtstandard.com