Judge Who Said Women Need Beating Removed From Office

A judge who told his clerk that “every woman needs a good pounding every now and then” was removed from office Tuesday by a judicial conduct commission.

Donald Roberts, a village justice in Franklin County and former state police trooper, also told his clerk that an order of protection is “useless” and a “foolish and unnecessary thing,” according to the state Commission on Judicial Conduct.

Robert’s attorney, Peter Rupert, said he would fight the decision but would not comment further.

The ruling can be appealed within 30 days to the state Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.

Calls to Roberts were not immediately returned on Tuesday.

His term expires next April.

Roberts, 52, made the comment in August 1994 after denying a protective order to Karyn Metz, whose husband was charged with assault after beating her.

In September 1994, Metz came to police again for a domestic dispute involving her husband, but was told he could not be removed from the home because she didn’t have an order of protection. She was forced to leave the home with her children, according to court papers.