- The Illinois Courts Commission sanctioned 2 judges for conduct related to their extramarital affair. In re Drazewski, Foley, Order (Illinois Courts Commission March 11, 2016).
- The Louisiana Supreme Court removed a justice of the peace for numerous legal errors in peace bond proceedings; being rude, discourteous, and undignified; and allowing his staff to be rude, discourteous, and undignified. In re Laiche, Opinion (Louisiana Supreme Court March 15, 2016).
- With the judge’s consent, the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities released its private reprimand of a judge for appearing in a court where he was assigned as a recall judge for a trial on a ticket he had received. In the Matter of Plitt, Private reprimand (Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities March 15, 2016).
- The Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline permanently barred a former judge from judicial office in the state based on his federal plea agreement to charges related to a conspiracy to defraud. In the Matter of Jones, Findings of fact, conclusions of law, and imposition of discipline (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline March 1, 2016).
- Based on the judge’s consent, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline reprimanded a judge for independently investigating the father in a paternity case and then holding him in contempt without following due process requirements and failing to enter a visitation order in the case for over a year. In the Matter of Wanker, Stipulation and order of consent (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline March 3, 2016).
- Based on a stipulation, a judge agreed to resign and the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline agreed to accept his resignation; the judge stipulated that, for health reasons, he is not currently taking the bench or hearing cases. In the Matter of Kent, Stipulation and consent order for resignation (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline March 16, 2016).
- Based on joint stipulations of fact, violations, and aggravating and mitigating factors, the Ohio Supreme Court suspended a former judge for 2 years, with 18 months stayed with conditions, for his sexual relationship with a party in an eviction action over which he presided as a magistrate, his falsification of a loan application for the purchase of a motor vehicle for her, and his misappropriation of wrongful-death proceeds that were intended to finance an annuity for the benefit of the decedent’s minor children. Disciplinary Counsel v. Williams (Ohio Supreme Court March 8, 2016).
- Based on stipulations of fact in lieu of trial, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline fined a former supreme court justice $50,000 for exchanging insensitive and inappropriate e-mails with friends and professional acquaintances using his Commonwealth-issued computer equipment and a personal, web-based e-mail address. In Eakin, Opinion (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline March 24, 2016).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a justice of the peace for attempting to pull over a driver for reckless driving, having a police officer pull the driver over, and threatening to have the driver incarcerated without legal justification. Public Warning of Brady and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 3, 2016).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to take immediate steps to disqualify himself and/or transfer his own divorce case out of his court, filing motions in his own court in connection with the divorce action, failing to timely rule on or refer the recusal motions filed by the attorney representing his wife, attempting to intervene in proceedings relating to his own recusal, and displaying a personal animus against the attorney representing his wife. Public Reprimand of Herrera and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 24, 2016)).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a judge for entering judgments finding defendants guilty of illegal parking violations that were not supported by a proper complaint or probable cause and imposing fines for those offenses in excess of amounts allowed by law. Public Warning of Jones and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 29, 2016).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a former justice of the peace for dismissing criminal cases without a motion from the prosecutor, frequent and extended absences from the court, delays and confusion caused by his handling a case, and using court funds for his personal financial benefit. Public Reprimand of Stringer (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 29, 2016).
- Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct reprimanded a court commissioner for failing to treat all individuals appearing before her in court with patience, courtesy, and respect. In re Canada-Thurston, Stipulation, agreement, order of reprimand (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 4, 2016).
Judicial ethics and discipline 