10 years ago this month:

• The Alabama Court of the Judiciary publicly reprimanded and censured a judge and suspended him from office for 90 days without pay for failing to recuse himself from a proceeding arising out of a voter fraud investigation involving his close relatives.  In the Matter of Wiggins, Final Judgment (Alabama Court of the Judiciary July 30, 2009).
• Based on the recommendation of the Judicial Conduct Commission, the Alaska Supreme Court suspended a judge for 3 months without pay for passing a note to a state trooper who was a witness in a trial, a subsequent communication with the trooper about the note, his misstatement of his intention to distribute similar notes to both parties, and continuing to preside after he initially recused himself.  In re Cummings, 211 P.3d 1136 (Alaska 2009).
• Based on a stipulation, the California Commission on Judicial Performance censured a former court commissioner for failing to decide numerous cases in a timely manner; the Commission also barred her from seeking or holding judicial office or accepting a position or an assignment as a judicial officer.  In the Matter Concerning Dobbs, Decision and Order (California Commission on Judicial Performance July 15, 2009).
• Based on stipulated facts and conclusions of law, the Louisiana Supreme Court suspended a judge from office for 30 days without pay for suggesting that a petition for protection from abuse was inconsequential, suggesting approval of the infliction of severe corporal punishment on a child, and treating the petitioner in a condescending, demeaning, and impatient manner.  In re Ellender, 16 So. 3d 351 (Louisiana 2009).
• The Michigan Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for inappropriate sexual drawings and comments directed toward female court employees.  In re Servaas, 774 N.W.2d 46 (Michigan 2009).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a non-lawyer judge for (1) failing to make timely deposits and to timely report and remit funds to the State Comptroller and (2) filing a small claims action in his own court, presiding over the case, and failing to transfer it to another court.  In the Matter of Miclette, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 1, 2009).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for (1) threatening to hold a litigant in contempt for not disclosing the address of the shelter where the litigant was residing and holding her attorney in contempt and (2) without the knowledge or consent of the parties, visiting a child he had ordered hospitalized for a mental evaluation.  In the Matter of Singer, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 1, 2009).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for imposing fines that exceeded the amount authorized by law.  In the Matter of Banks, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 16, 2009).
• Based on stipulated facts, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline suspended a judge for 4 months without pay for using his secretary and other judicial resources in the day-to-day operations of 16 properties he owned.  In re Berry, 979 A.2d 991 (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline 2009).
• Accepting an agreement for discipline by consent, the South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a former magistrate for removing a statue from the yard of a member of his wife’s family and calling court employees while on interim suspension to try to obtain a continuance in a case to which he was not a party.  In the Matter of Lucas, 681 S.E.2d 874 (South Carolina 2009).