Family Law Blog

Messy Divorce in Secretary of Navy Nominee’s Past

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on April 8, 2009

The nytimes.com reported in an article on March 30, 2009 that President Obama’s nominee for Secretary of Navy, Ray Mabus, had been involved in a divorce that included him clandestinely tape recording a conversation he had with his wife and priest. Mabus served in the Navy during the Vietnam War on the warship cruiser Little Rock, is a former governor of Mississippi, and former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, used the tapes he recorded, on the advice of his lawyer, against his former wife Julie in court.

After learning Julie was having an affair, Mabus was advised by his lawyer at the time to make a recording of the supposed reconciliation talk with Reverend McBride the couple’s friend. During the session Julie acknowledges the affair and said, “I will hate you till the day I die, and I will tell my children.”

Mr. Mabus used an expert psychiatric witness, and with the secret recordings used as evidence in the proceedings, was granted legal custody of their two daughters.

Saying she regretted her comments, Julie sued Reverend McBride and the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi in the year 2002. The suit gained national attention as a potential court case against churches regarding privacy rights. The Mississippi Supreme Court will most likely consider and appeal after the case was dismissed by a judge in 2006.

Marriages that end in divorce are not a fate reserved to the rich and powerful. In fact, the numbers regarding divorce rates in America continue to rise. Kaplan Law is a distinguished Colorado divorce law firm representing all types of family law. If you are involved in a situation where the service of an experienced Denver divorce lawyer is needed, contact Kaplan Law. Please call us at 1-877-527-5260 for a consultation.