5 years ago this month:

• The Mississippi Supreme Court suspended a judge for 90 days without pay and reprimanded him for ex parte communications with a police officer, taking a criminal defendant for a ride in his car, reducing the defendant’s fine at the officer’s request, and lying to the investigator for the Commission on Judicial Performance. Commission on Judicial Performance v. Boone, 60 So. 3d 172 (Mississippi 2011).

• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct warned a judge for issuing a summons for a citizen to appear in his court when no case was pending and no criminal charges had been filed against him. Public Warning of Perez (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct April 6, 2011).

• The Utah Supreme Court approved the implementation of the Judicial Conduct Commission’s censure of a former judge based on his guilty plea to charges of exposing himself to a police officer in a public restroom. Inquiry Concerning Hare, Order (Utah Supreme Court April 6, 2011).

• Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished a former judge for expressing his support for a candidate for sheriff in a letter to the editor while still a judge. In the Matter of Votendahl, Stipulation, Agreement, and Order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct April 22, 2011).