SPRINGFIELD - A central Illinois judge faces a judicial misconduct complaint for allegedly having inappropriate contact with two women involved in family court disputes he was overseeing.

The state Judicial Inquiry Board filed the complaint Tuesday with the Illinois Courts Commission against Logan County Associate Judge Donald A. Behle.

The complaint accuses Behle of misconduct for dating a woman in 2003 while he presided over her divorce and child custody case.

Behle allegedly ordered the employer of the woman's ex-husband to withhold child support payments from his paycheck and did not recuse himself from the case until almost two years later, according to the complaint.

Behle also allegedly had inappropriate personal contact in 2005 with a woman who testified in her sister's child custody case, which he was overseeing. Behle did not recuse himself from the case until nearly two months after he awarded temporary custody of the children to the woman's sister.

Sean Burke, a lawyer for the inquiry board, said the investigation was confidential and he could not identify the women involved or say how the board learned of the alleged misconduct.

The complaint contends Behle violated several judicial rules, including those requiring judges to observe high standards of conduct and barring judges from allowing family or social relationships to influence their judgment.

Lawyers for Behle did not immediately return phone messages left at their offices seeking comment Tuesday afternoon.

The courts commission hands out punishment ranging from reprimands to removal from office. Burke said the inquiry board made no recommendations for punishment and it likely will be several months before a decision is reached.