The U.S. Deparment of Labor announced a better-than-expected addition of 254,000 jobs in September, and Orange County Judge Jeffrey Ashton has been accused of misconduct.
U.S. adds a robust 254,000 jobs in sign of still-sturdy labor market
America's employers added a surprisingly strong 254,000 jobs in September, the latest evidence that the U.S. labor market is still solid enough to support steady hiring and a growing economy.
Last month's hiring gain was up sharply from the 159,000 jobs that were added in August, and the unemployment dropped from 4.2% to 4.1%, the Labor Department said Friday.
The latest figures suggest that many companies are still confident enough to fill jobs despite the continued pressure of high interest rates. Few employers are laying off workers, though many have grown more cautious about hiring.
The economy's progress in taming inflation led the Federal Reserve last month to cut its benchmark interest rate for the first time in more than four years. The Fed said it wanted to ease the cost of borrowing to help bolster the job market.
The economy's resilience has come as a relief. Economists had expected that the Fed's aggressive campaign to subdue inflation — it jacked up interest rates 11 times in 2022 and 2023 — would cause a recession. It didn't. The economy kept growing even in the face of ever-higher borrowing costs for consumers and businesses.
Most economists say the Fed appears to have achieved the once unlikely prospect of a "soft landing'' — in which high interest rates help vanquish inflation without triggering a recession — "is already secure.''
The economy is weighing heavily on voters as the Nov. 5 presidential election nears. Many Americans are unimpressed by the job market's durability and are still frustrated by high prices, which remain on average 19% above where they were in February 2021. That was when inflation began surging as the economy rebounded with unexpected speed and strength from the pandemic recession, causing severe shortages of goods and labor.
The public's discontent with inflation and the economy under President Joe Biden has been a political burden for Vice President Kamala Harris in her race for the White House against former President Donald Trump.
Across the economy, though, most indicators look solid. The U.S. economy, the world's largest, grew at a vigorous 3% annual pace from April through June, boosted by consumer spending and business investment. A forecasting tool from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta points to slower but still healthy 2.5% annual growth in the just-ended July-September quarter.
Orange County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Ashton accused of misconduct in courtroom
A high-profile Central Florida judge is facing a list of formal charges from the Judicial Qualifications Commission.
Elected to the bench in 2018, Circuit Court Judge Jeff Ashton is known by many for his time serving as a state attorney prosecuting the Casey Anthony case.
The former State Attorney is under fire for his behavior in the courtroom, according to the accusations, which were made public on Wednesday.
The JQC accused Ashton of acting inappropriately on multiple occasions during hearings, stating that he shouted at people in court and oftentimes in front of juries.
As a result of the charges, Ashton could face disciplinary action from the Florida Supreme Court.
He’s also up for re-election in November, where he will face off against Alicia Peyton.
The JQC complaint includes multiple examples of Ashton’s alleged inappropriate behavior from different cases he oversaw.
An example of a case dating back to 2017 accuses Ashton of shouting at an attorney and accusing that same attorney of provoking his “angry face.”
It also states observers were able to “hear your raised voice and see that your facial expression and overall demeanor evinced a bias against one party or their attorney."
In the complaint, the JQC says his behavior demonstrates bias and “raises questions about your fitness for judicial office.”
Ashton has 20 days to provide a response to the commission.