I’ve known former-Judge Tommy Jewell for a couple of decades in the most superficial social way. I run with lawyers and judges the way some run with wolves. A very long time ago, I attended a party at which Woody and the Woodpeckers, a band of judges, played — Jewell was their drummer.

I do know that Jewell served for many years as a judge and, particularly, with matters of family law. And, it matters little to me, but he is married and has children. We might call him a pillar of the community.

So, soon after his retirement as a judge, his appointment to head Children, Youth and Family in New Mexico seemed a very good fit. Here is a judicious man used to getting difficult things done.

So what happened? How did the wheels fly off the cart in such a short time? What is Tommy Jewell guilty of?

I have no idea; do you? I know that soon after his nomination, an anonymous women pointed out a sealed court case involving her and Jewell and a restraining order. Now, I respect her right to privacy, which has to be slightly greater than for a public figure like Jewell. And, I know restraining orders are good and necessary tools to protect victims of abuse. Of course, restraining orders can also be abused, as we saw in the case of the lunatic in Santa Fe attempting to restrain Letterman from communicating with her via TV.

How can Jewell be driven out of this by something so lacking in details? I don’t want the detail — let the Governor or state Supreme Court look into it. If there is something in this situation, other than inuendo and controversy, that disqualifies Jewell from this position, I want him disqualified. If there is something genuinely unseemly involved, I’m not sure I want to know.

What troubles me most, even more than the constant assault on public figures (to which I mightily contribute), is the underlying secrecy. Again, I respect privacy. But secrecy is becoming a national obsession that threatens our freedom. And secrecy in this case may be denying us the best person for the job. mjh

ABQjournal: Jewell Declines CYFD Position; Former Judge Was Set To Take Over Today By Leann Holt, Journal Staff Writer

According to news reports about the domestic violence case, a Sandoval County judge did not grant the woman a temporary restraining order, saying her accusations were “unsubstantiated and scandalous.” The judge then sealed the case. …

Jewell, a nationally recognized children’s advocate and leader in juvenile justice reform, apologized in his letter for not telling the governor about the domestic violence allegations before taking the job.

“Since the accusations were reported in the media and the case was sealed, I believed it was resolved and in the past,” he wrote.

Tom Swisstack, director of the Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center, said Jewell was instrumental in making Bernalillo County a national model for detention reform when he was a judge. He said Jewell’s ability to help people work together was something the department needed.

ABQjournal: Appointee Vetting to Change; Gov. To Require Disclosure Form By Deborah Baker, The Associated Press

A woman— not Jewell’s wife— requested a temporary restraining order against the judge in 1999. The case was shifted to Sandoval County, where a judge didn’t grant the order— calling the accusations “unsubstantiated and scandalous”— and sealed the case. …

“Here was a man with an impeccable record, a great reputation. A community leader. We thought we had a real gem,” Richardson said. “And, obviously, I wish he had said, ‘Well, by the way, there was this incident.’ ”