20 years ago this month:

• The Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission publicly admonished a judge for unreasonable delay in deciding 2 cases and failing to file required quarterly reports. Letter to Choate (Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission September 19, 1997).
• The Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission publicly admonished a judge for calling the victim, the police officer, and the prosecuting attorney on behalf of a defendant who was involved in building the judge’s house and then presiding over the arraignment. Letter to Davis (Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission September 19, 1997).
• The Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission publicly admonished a judge for voluntarily appearing as a character witness. Letter to Adams (Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission September 19, 1997).
• The Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission publicly admonished a judge for calling the police after witnessing an individual run a stop sign, locating the driver with the police officer, directing the officer to issue a ticket for reckless driving, telling the individual that his driver’s license was suspended and he would be put in jail and not released until the court date if he was caught driving, and later presiding at the trial, convicting the individual, and fining him $100. Letter to Hayes (Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission September 19, 1997).
• Pursuant to the agreement of the judge, the California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a judge who, in a series of telephone calls to law enforcement agencies, had repeatedly invoked her judicial position to attempt to obtain the release from custody of a personal friend. Inquiry Concerning Austin, Decision and Order of Public Admonishment (California Commission on Judicial Performance September 23, 1997).
• Pursuant to an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge who, while a candidate, had mailed a brochure to voters that gave the unmistakable impression that he would favor tenants over landlords in housing matters. In the Matter of Birnbaum, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct September 29, 1997).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge who (1) had driven his automobile into a tree and pleaded guilty to driving while intoxicated; (2) had presided over an ex parte request for a temporary order of protection while under the influence of alcohol; and (3) had confronted 2 sheriffs’ officers and demanded to know why his son, the court officer assigned to his court, had been removed from the courthouse and stated, loudly and angrily, “How can you do this to me? Why are you doing this to me?  After all the support I’ve given you and your department, this is the way your deputies treat me.”  In the Matter of Purple, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct September 29, 1997).