BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - A Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate has been fined $250 after a judge determined he’d shirked his duties as a lawyer so he could appear on a radio show to promote his campaign.
The Burlington Free Press reports Jasdeep Pannu, an Essex attorney, had clients scheduled for 9:30 a.m. hearings Friday, but he was scheduled to appear on the radio show at 9:40 a.m.
Pannu had asked Judge Michael Kupersmith to change the time, but the judge denied that request.
Pannu’s cases were heard around 10:45 a.m. Kupersmith called it “dereliction of duty,” saying Pannu’s first obligation was to the court.
Pannu agreed. He declined further comment.
Pannu is one of four candidates seeking the GOP nomination to run for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Bernie Sanders.
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