5 years ago this month:

• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct informally reprimanded a judge for ruling on petitions filed by the probation department regarding a defendant whom he had represented in the underlying case. Williams, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct March 15, 2012).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts, stipulation, and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a non-lawyer judge for ex parte communications about an impending sentencing with the defendant’s attorney and the police chief even though a year earlier he had been cautioned by the Commission to avoid ex parte communications. In the Matter of Lamson, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 20, 2012).
• Adopting the findings and conclusions of the Judicial Standards Commission, which were based on stipulated facts, the North Carolina Supreme Court suspended a judge for 75 days without pay for ticket-fixing. In re Hartsfield, 722 S.E.2d 496 (North Carolina 2012).
• Adopting the findings of the Judicial Standards Commission, the North Carolina Supreme Court censured a judge for signing an order that contained false recitations without reading the order or giving the prosecution notice or an opportunity to make arguments. In re Totten, 722 S.E.2d 783 (North Carolina 2012).
• Adopting the findings and recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, to which the judge agreed, the Wyoming Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for comments about towing charges he made at a city council meeting. In the Matter of Lopez, 274 P.3d 405 (Wyoming 2012).