5 years ago this month:

• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct reprimanded a judge for berating defendants, attorneys, and individuals in the courtroom gallery. Johnson, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct March 18, 2011).
• Based on the judge’s agreement, the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission admonished a judge for making 2 phone calls to the police and helping return stolen goods that were taken by an employee of his family’s business. Letter of Admonishment (Boeckmann) (Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission March 18, 2011).
• The California Commission on Judicial Performance admonished a judge for an insensitive comment about the Ku Klux Klan. Public Admonishment of Giss (California Commission on Judicial Performance March 16, 2011).
• The Mississippi Supreme Court suspended a judge without pay for 30 days, publicly reprimanded him, and fined him $1,000 for engaging in ex parte communications, misusing his contempt power, failing to properly notice hearings, granting relief not requested, issuing a search warrant without legal authority, making comments to the local newspaper to explain his actions and justify a defendant’s incarceration, and ex parte contact with a litigant. Commission on Judicial Performance v. Patton, 57 So. 3d 626 (Mississippi 2011).
• Based on a stipulation and the judge’s consent, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline censured a former judge for committing domestic battery against his now ex-wife; the Commission also prohibited him from seeking and accepting judicial office in Nevada for 4 years. In the Matter of Abbatangelo, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, Consent Order of Discipline (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline March 30, 2011).
• Granting a petition for discipline upon stipulation, the New Mexico Supreme Court reprimanded a former judge for failing to be patient, dignified, and courteous in a criminal case and in a related contempt hearing. In the Matter of Walker (New Mexico Supreme Court March 24, 2011).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured a judge who personally delivered his co-worker’s traffic ticket to another court. In the Matter of Daniels, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 25, 2011).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured a judge who took a treatment court participant for a ride in his personal car over a lunch recess and spoke to him privately about personal issues, including the defendant’s drug use and his mother’s death. In the Matter of Tarantino, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 28, 2011).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished a part-time judge who (1) represented clients before the village building and zoning department over which his court has jurisdiction; (2) allowed his name to appear on papers filed by his law firm in lawsuits against the village; and (3) permitted his law firm to make political contributions. In the Matter of Kelly, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 31, 2011).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct reprimanded a judge for writing a letter on judicial stationery in support of a defendant in a criminal case pending in federal court. Public Reprimand of Ochoa (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 31, 2011).
• The Judicial Council of the U.S Court of Appeals for the 10^th Circuit reprimanded a judge for (1) appointing friends to serve as adjunct settlement judges, even though they were not qualified, and ordering certain counsel and parties to pay them fees for their services, in contravention of a local court rule; and (2) making inappropriate oral, written, and non-verbal comments in orders and during court proceedings. In re Complaint under the Judicial Conduct and Disability Action (White) (10^th Circuit Judicial Council March 22, 2011).