- Granting the application of the Commission on Judicial Qualifications, the Iowa Supreme Court reprimanded a magistrate for misusing expunged files in his private law practice. In the Matter of Sevcik (Iowa Supreme Court April 8, 2016).
- Following a hearing, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission reprimanded a judge for jailing a domestic violence complainant after she recanted her testimony. In re Collins, Findings of fact, conclusions of law, and final order (Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission April 22, 2016).
- The Mississippi Supreme Court suspended a chancellor without pay for 30 days, fined him $2,500, and reprimanded him for signing unsupported ex parte orders that contributed to the mismanagement of a ward’s estate. Commission on Judicial Performance v. Shoemake, Opinion (Mississippi Supreme Court April 14, 2016).
- Based on a stipulation and the judge’s consent, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline reprimanded a judge for initiating, without authority to investigate or prosecute misdemeanors, without factual or legal basis, and after the statute of limitations had run, the prosecution of a trucking company and its owners for a violation of federal regulations regarding brake tubing and hose and engaging in ex parte communications regarding the case, including plea negotiations. In the Matter of Haviland, Stipulation and order of consent to public reprimand (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline April 22, 2016).
- Granting a petition to accept a stipulation agreement and consent to discipline, the New Mexico Supreme Court placed a judge on probation for 1 year for initiating an ex parte communication with another judge and abusing the prestige of judicial office to seek favored and/or expedited treatment for her son’s paternity case. In the Matter of Montano-Baco, Order (New Mexico Supreme Court April 6, 2016).
- Granting a petition to accept a stipulation, the New Mexico Supreme Court ordered the permanent resignation of a judge against whom the Judicial Standards Commission had filed an amended notice of formal proceedings alleging a variety of misconduct including mishandling 3 traffic cases and failing to be patient, dignified, and courteous to court staff. In the Matter of Gallassini, Order (New Mexico Supreme Court March 30, 2016).
- The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct removed a judge for (1) threatening a student working in the court clerk’s office with contempt or arrest with no lawful basis and grabbing his arm “in an incident that escalated into a melee” in the clerk’s office; (2) with no lawful basis, repeatedly threatening court staff, his co-judge, village officials, and village employees with contempt or arrest over routine personnel or administrative issues; (3) repeatedly, over several years, bullying, harassing, threatening, and intimidating court staff, his co-judge, village officials, and village employees; (4) imposing monetary sanctions against a legal services agency without basis or authority and discourtesy to the agency’s attorneys; and (5) permitting a candidate for county executive to quote him in a campaign press release. In the Matter of Simon, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 29, 2016).
- Pursuant to an agreement, the investigative panel of the Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct reprimanded a judge for an ex parte meeting and e-mail with members of the district attorney general’s office regarding the types of dispositions she would accept in domestic violence court. Reprimand of Walker (Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct March 23, 2016).
Judicial ethics and discipline 