Judge Accused of Dozing at Trials Retires 1 hour, 35 minutes ago
CANBERRA, Australia - A judge under investigation for nodding off during trials has retired on medical grounds, a government minister said Friday.
Judge Ian Dodd, 57 — dubbed Judge Nodd by jurors — has retired five months after a newspaper reported he had dozed off during at least nine cases in the New South Wales state District Court in Sydney.
A rape victim had called for Dodd to be fired because she said he had snored as she testified during the trial of her assailant in November, 2003. He was dubbed Judge Nodd when he fell asleep every day of a seven-day trial in December 2003, The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.
Witnesses have reported that lawyers would cough or drop rulers to subtly wake the judge during hearings. State Attorney-General Bob Debus confirmed that Dodd had retired on health grounds after taking extended leave. ------------------------------
