Judges Committee Recommendation Regarding USCA Judge Craig Groh

EB #11-15

Motion: To Approve the USCA Judges Committee recommendation against USCA Judge Craig Groh for committing a Level Four (4) Offense that carries a “D” consequence for a first time offender and a Level Three (3) Offense that carries a  “C” consequence for a first time offender.

The Judges Committee’s recommended consequence for the first charge (Level 4, D punishment), “altering and submitting altered USCA Show Documentation” is 12 months license suspension (maximum under this level of offense) followed by 24 months Probationary License (maximum under this level of offense). The Judges Committee’s recommended consequence for the second charge of misconduct by a USCA Judge at a USCA Event (Level 3, C Punishment) is 24 months probation to run consecutive to the first charge (maximum under this level of offense). Full consequence is 12 months of suspension followed by 48 months of probation.

Motion Submitted by:  Director of Judges Nathaniel Roque on behalf of the USCA Judges Committee.

Motion Seconded by:  Frank Phillips, Vice President USCA

Background information: Reaching this decision and recommendation was not taken lightly by the Judges Committee. Multiple conference calls and emails were used to arrive at this decision. The complaints and witnesses were interviewed as well as the presiding judge, Johannes Grewe.  Judge Groh was given the opportunity to address the committee and defend his actions. Judge Groh was also given the opportunity to address the EB and declined. The Judges Committee final decision by majority vote was to recommend the lesser of the possible sanctions against him to include suspension followed by probation as outlined in the Judges Program and not the greater penalty of Lifetime License Revocation.

VOTE RESULT:  13 YES; 6 NO; 1 ABSTAIN

The majority of NO votes believed that Judge Groh deserved the higher consequence up to and including license revocation.

Motion carried:  April 1, 2015