- The Arkansas Commission on Judicial Discipline & Disability issued a letter of informal adjustment to a former judicial candidate for statements in his campaign materials. Williams, Letter of informal adjustment (Arkansas Commission on Judicial Discipline & Disability July 15, 2016).
- Approving the findings, conclusions, and recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission based on a stipulation, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for an ex parte communication with the chief assistant state attorney on behalf of a defendant over whose case he was presiding in veteran’s court and making a public offer to convert the defendant’s remaining community control to probation prior to conducting any hearing. Inquiry Concerning Holder (Florida Supreme Court July 7, 2016).
- Approving a revised consent judgement, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for finding the victim in a domestic violence case in contempt for failing to respond to the prosecution’s subpoena to testify at trial and being discourteous and impatient toward the distraught victim; the Court also ordered the judge to complete an anger management course and attend a domestic violence course at the Florida Judicial College. Inquiry Concerning Collins (Florida Supreme Court July 7, 2016).
- Based on the findings of a hearing justice after a de novo review of a report of the Committee on Judicial Responsibility and Disability, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court suspended a judge for 30 calendars days and censured him for statements he made in a letter to counsel regarding a court proceeding in which he was a party. In the Matter of Nadeau (Maine Supreme Judicial Court July 21, 2016).
- Pursuant to the judge’s waiver of his right to demand a formal complaint and public hearing, the Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards reprimanded a judge for accusatory, hostile, and discourteous comments he made in 2 family law cases. In the Matter of Stacey, Public reprimand (Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards July 26, 2016).
- With the judge’s consent, the New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee reprimanded a judge for independently investigating facts on the internet and considering those facts in reaching her decision the value of the marital home in a divorce case and receiving and considering facts not put into evidence by the parties in a second divorce case; the Committee cautioned the judge about delay in rendering decision but dismissed the complaints against her. In the Matter of Albee, Reprimand and caution (New Hampshire Judicial Conduct Committee May 9, 2016).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished a judge for driving while intoxicated and repeatedly invoking his judicial position during the traffic stop. Public Admonition of Glicker and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 12, 2016).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct reprimanded a judge for unilaterally amending a charging instrument and negotiating a plea with the defendant and leaving a threatening, intimidating, and harassing voicemail message for the defendant. Public Reprimand of Scales (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 18, 2016).
- Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured a judge for meeting privately with a retired judge before a hearing in a paternity/custody case in which the former judge’s daughter was a litigant and failing to disclose that contact; allowing the retired judge to make and argue a motion to void a temporary restraining order against his daughter even though he was not a party or lawyer in the proceeding; and granting the motion despite the daughter’s absence from the hearing. In re Anderson, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 15, 2016).
- Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished a judge for refusing to allow a defendant to testify when he would not, for religious reasons, raise his hand while affirming he would tell the truth. In re Parise, Stipulation, agreement, and admonishment (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 15, 2016).
- Pursuant to a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct admonished a judge for failing to comply with state campaign reporting laws. In re Tveit, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 15, 2016).
Judicial ethics and discipline 