20 years ago this month:

• The Connecticut Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Judicial Review Council censuring a former judge for engaging in a consensual sexual relationship with a married court reporter who had been regularly assigned to his courtroom during their relationship. In re Flanagan, 690 A.2d 865 (Connecticut 1997).
• Accepting a statement of circumstances and conditional agreement for discipline, the Indiana Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judicial candidate who had pledged in campaign materials to “stop suspending sentences” and to “stop putting criminals on probation.” In the Matter of Haan, 676 N.E.2d 740 (Indiana 1997).
• The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline removed a judge who had violated the conditions of probation in a sobriety monitoring contract. In re Timbers, 692 A.2d 317 (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline 1997).
• The South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge who had conducted a bond hearing for a friend, released him from custody on a personal recognizance bond, asked the arresting office for as much help as “you can give me” with the case, and requested the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division to investigate the friend’s allegations that the arresting officer had used excessive force. In the Matter of Hancock, 483 S.E.2d 756 (South Carolina 1997).