5 years ago this month:

• Based on an agreement, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission publicly reprimanded a judicial candidate for “liking” a Facebook post that publicly endorsed a candidate for public office and making a contribution to a political candidate.  In the Matter of Cohen, Agreed order of public reprimand (Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission July 21, 2014).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts, the Mississippi Supreme Court removed a former judge and fined her $1,000 for wrongfully incarcerating 8 parents and 3 minors without affording them basic due process rights.  Commission on Judicial Performance v. Darby, 143 So. 3d 564 (Mississippi 2014).
• Adopting the findings and recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, the New Jersey Supreme Court publicly censured a former judge and permanently barred him from serving in judicial office for (1) engaging in fraudulent conduct including attempts to avoid his judgment creditors, fraudulently transferring real property, breaching his fiduciary duties to investors, having wage garnishments entered against his judicial salaries, failing to report his involvement in litigation as required by an administrative directive, and being consistently uncooperative with opposing counsel in 43 lawsuits filed against him; (2) political contributions by the judge’s law firm and business entities; and (3) the representation of municipal police officers by his law firm while he held judicial office in the county.  In the Matter of Cook, Order (New Jersey Supreme Court July 18, 2014).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for imposing fines and/or surcharges in over 941 cases that exceeded the maximum amounts authorized by law or were below the minimum amounts required by law and failing to properly supervise his court clerks, which resulted in the improper fines in some of the cases.  In the Matter of Piraino, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 30, 2014).
• The Ohio Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to disqualify herself from 53 cases involving a public defender whose arrest for driving while intoxicated she had witnessed, who was temporarily living in her house, and whom she was driving to work.  Disciplinary Counsel v. Oldfield, 16 N.E.3d 581 (Ohio July 2014).
• The Ohio Supreme Court indefinitely suspended a former judge’s law license based on her conviction on charges of lying to the FBI.  Ohio State Bar Association v. McCafferty, 17 N.E.3d 521 (Ohio July 2014).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a former judge for his extended practice of dismissing citations without a motion from the prosecutor.  Public Reprimand of Romo (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct July 3, 2014).