One or two British judges have enjoyed notoriety for behaviour unbecoming but compared to the lurid details that emerged about judge Herman Thomas from Alabama, well…

He allegedly enjoyed spanking male prisoners and traded favorable treatment for sexual favors which eventually led to charges being brought for sodomy, kidnapping, extortion, sex abuse and assault. Here’s a bit of background from the Mobile Press Register (via ATL )

Authorities are investigating allegations that now-suspended Mobile County Circuit Judge Herman Thomas periodically removed prisoners from Mobile County Metro Jail and spanked them in a room at the courthouse, according to courthouse sources involved in the inquiry.

Once inside the room, according to the sources, the judge would ask the young men to drop their pants and prepare to be spanked with what they described as a wooden or fraternity-like paddle.

Mr Thomas resigned as a judge in 2007 following the allegations and is now about to face trial.