Der Mittenfuhrer's Midnight Judge Appointment Accused of Lewdness

[Ian David]

Court pick is accused of lewd comment
Remark to co-worker debated at hearing

By Michael Levenson, Globe Staff | December 7, 2006

Governor Mitt Romney's nominee for a top magistrate's position in the Housing Court is facing sharp questions about his fitness to serve, amid allegations that he uttered a lewd comment to a female co-worker.

Yesterday, the nominee's former boss, Carlton Viveiros, acknowledged that the nominee, Stephen G . Carriero, made an "off-color comment" to a female court employee in 2000. Viveiros said he reprimanded Carriero, who at the time was assistant clerk magistrate at the Housing Court's Southeast Division. But Viveiros said he still believes that Carriero is right for the job.

"This individual made a mistake," Viveiros told the Governor's Council, the eight-member panel that must approve the nomination. "He said something off-color that was inappropriate, and, yes, I did write it up. My standards were high. It was an off-color comment, and no contact took place."

Viveiros did not detail the remark. But Councilor Marilyn M. Petitto Devaney, a Watertown Democrat, said Carriero was outside the courthouse, preparing to go to the Foxy Lady strip club, when he told a female co-worker that maybe she "could give a lap dance."

Devaney said Carriero's remark was "over the top" and "egregious."

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http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/12/07/court_pick_is_accused_of_lewd_comment/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+City%2FRegion+News