20 years ago this month:

• Accepting the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Performance, the Mississippi Supreme Court removed a judge who (1) during a dispute between a pastor and several members of a church, issued an ex parte temporary restraining order against the pastor without notice, had the pastor arrested on several occasions, went to the church during a disturbance, and refused to allow the pastor to press charges against church members as a result of a disturbance; (2) had ex parte communications about tickets and dismissed cases without a hearing; (3) signed an execution of judgement without authority; (4) handled fine and bond money contrary to statute and loaned litigants money; (5) without authority, allowed a defendant to plead to lesser charges; and (6) after being served with a formal complaint by the Commission, ordered constables and court staff to give him relevant official and unofficial notes and evidence and threatened punishment for contempt if they failed to comply. Commission on Judicial Performance v. Dodds, 680 So. 2d 180 (Mississippi 1996).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured a judge who had stated to a woman who had appeared in court to pay a fine the judge had imposed on her son that he did not want “mom or dad” to pay the fine, and, without provocation, loudly and angrily called her a “god-dam, interfering, middle-aged bitch” and her son a “stupid shit.” In the Matter of Mahon, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 8, 1996).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured a judge who had refused to release a defendant because he had been required to get out of bed to conduct the arraignment. In the Matter of McKevitt, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 8, 1996).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured a judge who (1) after another judge with whom she had had a close, personal, and intimate relationship married another women, obtained confidential records from the matrimonial proceedings of his new wife; (2) sent approximately 60 anonymous and harassing mailings containing malicious, vituperative, and derisive statements about the other judge and his wife to newspapers, businesses, their relatives, friends, neighbors, and others; and (3) accepted a bargained guilty plea from a defendant without advising him or defense counsel that she had received a note from the jury. In the Matter of Miller, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 14, 1996).
• Pursuant to a stipulation, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct censured a judge who had a consensual sexual relationship with a judicial secretary for 1 or 2 months. In re Fritzler, Stipulation and Order of Censure (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 9, 1996).