5 years ago this month:

• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a full-time justice of the peace and a pro tem justice of the peace for filing amicus briefs in 2 superior court cases in which the full-time judge’s decisions were being reviewed; the pro-tem judge had written and signed both briefs and urged the full-time judge to sign. Frankel, Karp, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct August 21, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a former judge for improperly conducting initial appearances and arraignments, treating civil and criminal matters interchangeably, and failing to review defendants’ constitutional rights. Woolbright, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct August 21, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for continuing to serve as the secretary of her local Republican Women’s group after she took office. Umphress, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct August 21, 2012).
• Approving the recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for holding a hearing on a motion for disqualification alleging a conflict between the attorney and the judge’s wife, communicating ex parte with his wife about the motion, calling his wife as a witness, questioning the attorney’s clients, and threatening to file a complaint with The Florida Bar. Inquiry Concerning Cohen, 99 So. 3d 926 (Florida 2012).
• The Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for repeatedly failing to follow well-established procedural requirements, specifically, failing to engage criminal defendants in legally sufficient plea colloquies in minor motor vehicle criminal offenses. Press Release (Merrick) (Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct August 31, 2012).
• Accepting the recommendation of the Judicial Tenure Commission, to which the judge consented, the Michigan Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for bringing “shame and obloquy” to the judiciary by his flippant manner in an interview with a reporter about a digital image of himself he had sent to others. In re McCree, 821 N.W.2d 674 (Michigan 2012).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct removed a former judge for a sexual encounter with his 5-year-old niece in 1972, before he was a judge. In the Matter of Hedges, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 17, 2012).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge who had (1) approved his own application for a pistol permit and (2) accidentally discharged his gun in his chambers while attempting to repair it. In the Matter of Sgueglia, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 10, 2012).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a non-lawyer judge who failed to expeditiously transfer from her court tickets issued to herself and her sons for violations of a dog-control ordinance, sent improper messages to the judges of the transferee court, and failed to maintain proper records of the tickets. In the Matter of Van Woeart, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 20, 2012).
• Pursuant to the judge’s agreement, the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission publicly reprimanded a judge for impaired driving. Public Reprimand of Carraway (North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission August 9, 2012).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a judge for intervening in a landlord-tenant dispute when no case was pending in his court and asserting that there was no need for the landlord to file an eviction action in the absence of a written lease agreement. Public Warning of De La Paz (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 3, 2012).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for issuing a capias pro fine warrant that resulted in a woman’s arrest and incarceration without following the law and failing to treat her in a patient, dignified, and courteous manner. Public Reprimand of Billingsley and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 3, 2012).
• The Utah Supreme Court approved the implementation of the Judicial Conduct Commission’s stipulated public reprimand for a former judge who had revoked a defendant’s probation without following proper procedures. In re Peters, Order (Utah Supreme Court August 22, 2012).