June 2, 2015
Judge Tom
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Suggestive text messages lead to lawyer’s resignation

Texting

Don’t think teens are the only ones who get into trouble for inappropriate text messages or cyberbullying.

John Diehl is a 49-year-old attorney in Missouri. He is also a politician: until mid-May, 2015, the Speaker of the state House of Representatives. Although married with three sons, he carried on a texting relationship with a college student who was an intern at the Missouri legislature. “Some of the messages were sexually suggestive,” stated the Associated Press.

Texting

Photo by Emily Hildebrand

Diehl announced his resignation from the speaker’s position as well as the legislature. He was quoted saying “I made a mistake. It’s one that calls into question my ability to lead.” An effort to remove was already underway, and Diehl recognized his responsibility to step down.

As we’ve pointed out numerous times, think before hitting “send” – this applies to everyone in cyberspace, regardless of age or position.

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

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