10 years ago this month:

• The California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a judge for driving a vehicle in a reckless manner while under the influence of alcohol and with a blood alcohol level of approximately 0.09%. Public Admonishment of Guy-Schall (California Commission on Judicial Performance September 5, 2008).
• Approving the recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for denying motions for disqualification in a murder case without giving counsel a reasonable time to prepare the motions in writing and threatening counsel with contempt. Inquiry Concerning Aleman, 995 So. 2d 395 (Florida 2008).
• Approving the finding and recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission to which the judge stipulated, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for calling the police to secure a defendant’s release in response to a phone call from the defendant’s brother, with whom the judge had previously practiced law. Inquiry Concerning Maxwell, 994 So. 2d 974 (Florida 2008).
• Pursuant to the judge’s consent, in lieu of filing formal disciplinary proceedings, the Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications publicly admonished a judge for accusing a prosecutor of using drugs. Public Admonition of Jessup (Indiana Commission on Judicial Qualifications September 18, 2008).
• Based on a stipulation and joint recommendation, the Mississippi Supreme Court Commission on Judicial Performance suspended a judge from office for 60 days without pay, publicly reprimanded him, and fined him $2,000 for engaging in ex parte communications with members of the community regarding removal of part of a fence around a cemetery plot, threatening the person who removed the fence pieces, and, although there were no criminal or civil charges, ordering that person to return the fence pieces to the cemetery. Commission on Judicial Performance v. Carr, 990 So.2d 763 (Mississippi 2008).
• Based on joint stipulations of fact, the Oklahoma Supreme Court disbarred a former judge for (1) submitting travel claims that misrepresented that his personal travel was for court business; (2) contacting a judge who would be sentencing his son, requesting department of corrections employees to testify on his son’s behalf, and writing a letter on court letterhead that criticized a probation officer who wrote an unfavorable report in his son’s case; (3) submitting requests for reimbursement of personal expenses that should not have been paid by the state; and (4) interfering with the arrest on drug charges of his assistant, with whom he was involved in a romantic relationship. State ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association v. Lile, 194 P.3d 1275 (Oklahoma 2008).
• The Oklahoma Supreme Court disbarred a former judge based on his conviction on 4 felony counts of indecent exposure for acts in the courthouse while he was a district judge. State of Oklahoma ex rel. Oklahoma Bar Association v. Thompson, 194 P.3d 1281 (Oklahoma 2008).
• The South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a former judge for (1) referring to his judicial office in a dispute with a motorist and (2) his actions during a foreclosure action on his residence. In the Matter of Anderson, 668 S.E.2d 413 (South Carolina 2008).
• Accepting the findings and recommendation of the Board of Commissioners on Grievances and Discipline, the Ohio Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a former judge for denying due process to defendants in 3 criminal cases in flagrant disregard of the law. State Bar Association v. Goldie, 894 N.E.2d 1226 (Ohio 2008).