20 years ago this month:

• The Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for colliding with a dock while operating a motor boat and leaving the scene without reporting the accident. Inquiry Concerning Fletcher, 666 So. 2d 137 (Florida 1996).

• The Mississippi Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge who abused his judicial office to address rumors about his relationship with a litigant, for example, making statements in a hearing and questioning the parties regarding the alleged rumors. Commission on Judicial Performance v. Jenkins, 677 So. 2d 171 (Mississippi 1996).

• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct removed a judge who, from December 1993 until May 1995 (with the exception of 1 month), was five to 158 days late in remitting money to the state comptroller as required by law, even though he handled an average of only 4 cases a month, and who failed to respond to the Commission’s inquiries. In the Matter of Miller, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct January 19, 1996).

• Based on an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished a judge who had refused to appoint an interpreter for a defendant who did not speak English and made remarks concerning the defendant and other Spanish-speaking farm workers that gave the appearance of ethnic bias. In the Matter of Carr, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct January 22, 1996).