5 years ago this month:

• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a hearing officer for berating a litigant for attempting to cite Arizona law in a small claims proceeding, advising the parties against “quoting any of the rules or regulations of Arizona law,” and employing a bullying tone and demeanor throughout the hearing. Madanick, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct June 27, 2013).
• The Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission publicly reprimanded a judge for granting an ex parte verbal request by a paternal grandmother to take children involved in a domestic matter to a family gathering without notice to the parties or a hearing, even though he was aware that a domestic violence order prohibited the father from having visitation with the children. In re Langford, Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Final Order (Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission June 17, 2013).
• Affirming the Judicial Tenure Commission’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, the Michigan Supreme Court removed a judge from office for (1) committing perjury in a hearing in her divorce case; (2) signing her former attorney’s name on legal documents and filing those documents without the attorney’s permission; and (3) making numerous misrepresentations under oath during the Commission proceedings. In re Adams, 833 N.W.2d 897 (Michigan 2013).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and stipulation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for sending an unsolicited letter on judicial stationery to the division of parole on behalf of the son of a family acquaintance. In the Matter of Smith, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 19, 2013).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and stipulation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for filing his 2010 financial disclosure statement 11 months late and failing to cooperate with the Commission investigation. In the Matter of McAndrews, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 18, 2013).