BY DAVE WILSON
Following an investigation and a second admonishment by the Judicial Investigation Commission of West Virginia, Monongalia County Magistrate Todd Gaujot has resigned and agreed not to seek judicial office again.
The commission concluded Gaujot violated 10 rules, including “Compliance with the Law,” “Bias, Prejudice, Harassment,” and “Impartiality and Fairness.” The Commission found that formal discipline was not required but Gaujot agreed to immediately step down and not seek judicial office again.
Gaujot was previously admonished by the commission in May 2022 for violating five rules related to outbursts in court.
The investigation addressed multiple complaints. The first focused on a June 21, 2022, incident in which two dogs were seized after being rescued from a hot car. Gaujot took it upon himself to contact Monongalia County Canine Adoption Center Director Dana Johnson and order her to release the dogs to their owners, circumventing the protocol of a seizure hearing.
A second complaint was filed regarding Gaujot’s interactions with a deputy magistrate clerk. The complaint states that Gaujot used profanities with the deputy clerk and became irate with the deputy clerk when paperwork for a defendant’s bond could not be completed as quickly as he wanted.
The complaint stated that after the deputy clerk informed Gaujot the paperwork had not yet arrived and hung up the phone, Gaujot suddenly came up to the clerk’s window screaming.
“Don’t you ever f hang that phone up. Do you know who I am? I’m telling you.”
The investigation also found several other issues, including that Gajuot was chronically late or work, especially when he was required to be there at 8 a.m. In his absence, other magistrates had to handle his cases, as well as their own.
Gaujot, allegedly, had a habit of engaging in unwanted hugging and touching. The investigation also found improper photos, memes and text messages unbecoming a judicial officer on his official cell phone.
Chief Circuit Judge Perri Jo DeChristopher will appoint Gaujot’s replacement to serve out the remainder of his term.
Gaujot was elected in 2020. Magistrates serve four-year terms.
