20 years ago this month:

• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge who had routinely required out-of-town defendants in traffic cases to post $100 bail if they pled guilty by mail. In the Matter of Kelson, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 17, 1997).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge who had told a litigant “it appears to me that you are more than a little nuts” and, when the litigant objected, said, “I understand what I have heard with my own ears and it appears to me that you are nuts.” In the Matter of Going, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 18, 1997).
• The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline severely reprimanded and censured a former judge for sexually harassing a court employee and filing false and misleading campaign expense reports. In re Cicchetti, 698 A.2d 704 (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline 1997).
• The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline suspended a judge for 60 days without pay for contacting the supervisor of the statutory appeal unit regarding a defendant who had appealed from a sentence the judge had imposed and for making false statements to FBI agents about the contact. In re Trkula, 698 A.2d 180 (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline 1997).
• Based on an agreement, the South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a former judge who had pled guilty to official misconduct in office for dismissing DUI charges against a friend; the Court also ordered that he not seek appointment to any judicial office in the state unless authorized by the Court. In the Matter of Chiles, 490 S.E.2d 259 (South Carolina 1997).
• Agreeing with the recommendation of the Judicial Conduct Commission, the Utah Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for allowing a litigant to submit a sworn affidavit signed by the judge that gave the judge’s opinions and conclusions on the ultimate issue in a pending judicial proceeding. In re McCully, 942 P.2d 327 (Utah 1997).
• The Vermont Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge and suspended her for 1 year without pay for falsely denying, during a hearing by the Vermont Association of County Judges, that she had secretly taped meetings or conversations. In re Kroger, 702 A.2d 64 (Vermont 1997).
• Adopting the recommendations of the Judicial Hearing Board, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals publicly admonished a magistrate for contacting the arresting officer and prosecuting attorney concerning an action against his son-in-law. In the Matter of Rice, 489 S.E.2d 783 (West Virginia 1997).
• Pursuant to a stipulation, the Wisconsin Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a former judge for battering his wife and causing her bodily harm. In the Matter of Crivello, 564 N.W.2d 785 (Wisconsin 1997).