Judge who masturbated on bench, disbarred

TULSA, Okla., Sept. 24 (UPI) -- The Oklahoma Supreme Court has disbarred a former district court judge who went to jail for exposing himself and masturbating during trials.

Donald D. Thompson, a former Creek County jurist, may not practice law because of conduct the court said "displayed a complete abdication of judgment," the newspaper Tulsa World reported Wednesday.

Thompson was convicted of four counts of indecent exposure in June 2006. He had retired from the bench in 2004 before the charges were filed.

Prosecutors had accused the judge of exposing himself and using a penis pump to masturbate during four Creek County trials.

Thompson was released this year after serving 20 months in prison.

His lawyer, Clark Brewster, said Thompson had no intention of practicing law after he retired.

Brewster said the disbarment did not come as a surprise.