5 years ago this month

• The Arkansas Supreme Court reprimanded a judge for imposing sanctions on an attorney for a motion without establishing the allegations in the motion were false. Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission v. Simes, 381 S.W.3d 764 (Arkansas 2011).
• In lieu of formal disciplinary proceedings and with the judge’s consent, the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications admonished a judge for making inappropriate public comments to a television reporter after his son parked in a handicapped space in the court’s public lot without the appropriate placard. Public Admonition of Hunter (Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications May 5, 2011).
• Based on a statement of circumstances and conditional agreement for discipline, the Indiana Supreme Court reprimanded a judge for driving while intoxicated. In the Matter of Hughes, 947 N.E.2d 418 (Indiana 2011).
• The Louisiana Supreme Court suspended a non-lawyer justice of the peace for 1 year without pay for signing a divorce judgment without authority or jurisdiction. In re Adams, 63 So. 3d 948 (Louisiana 2011).
• The New Mexico Supreme Court accepted a judge’s permanent resignation, ordered that he never hold judicial office, and formally reprimanded him for intentionally and without justification in law or fact convicting and jailing 32 courtroom spectators, some of whom had created a brief courtroom disturbance. In the Matter of Sanchez, Order (New Mexico Supreme Court May 17, 2011).
• Granting a stipulation, the New Mexico Supreme Court barred a judge from serving as a judge and formally reprimanded him for driving while intoxicated. In the Matter of Robles, Order (New Mexico Supreme Court May 17, 2011), Formal reprimand (New Mexico Supreme Court May 31, 2011).
• Based on an agreement for discipline by consent, the South Carolina Supreme Court reprimanded a former judge for, at a county bar reception, making an inappropriate comment to a law student and having an inappropriate image on his cell phone that was viewed by the law student and others. In the Matter of Hughes, 710 S.E.2d 75 (South Carolina 2011).
• The South Dakota Supreme Court ordered the retirement of a judge for mistreating court employees, insulting lawyers, insensitive racial and sexist jokes, conducting himself on the bench “with unconscionable arrogance,” and referring to law enforcement from the bench as a “bunch of racists” with no evidentiary basis; the Court stayed the retirement if the judge consented to a 6-month suspension without pay and numerous conditions. In the Matter of Fuller, 798 N.W.2d 408 (South Dakota 2011).
• The Tennessee Court of the Judiciary reprimanded a judge for signing ex parte orders of dismissal and expunging convictions. Letter to Hamilton (Tennessee Court of the Judiciary May 4, 2011).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished a judge for (1) forcing a driver to appear before him so he could lecture her about her driving; (2) directing his court staff to accept payments from defendants on behalf of plaintiffs to discharge judgments and/or to comply with settlement agreements; and (3) directing his court staff to accept rental payments from tenants on behalf of landlords in eviction cases. Public Admonition of Corbin (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct May 9, 2011).