25 years ago this month:

• The California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly reproved a judge who had a policy of issuing no-bail bench warrants for all defendants who failed to appear on misdemeanors, despite constitutional and penal code provisions giving individuals a right to bail before conviction with only limited exceptions.  Letter to Kanner (California Commission on Judicial Performance November 21, 1994).
• Approving a stipulation, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for making sexist and racist remarks while performing her duties; using crude, profane, and inappropriate language when presiding over legal proceedings; and failing to diligently perform the duties of office.  Inquiry Concerning Golden, 645 So. 2d 970 (Florida 1994).
• The Mississippi Supreme Court suspended a judge for 15 days without pay and fined him $1000 for dismissing a burglary case based on ex parte representations by a defendant and his aunt that the complainant wanted to drop the charge; when the complainant executed a second affidavit for the same offense, going with the defendant to the complainant’s place of employment and telling her there would be a hearing the next day at 11:00 a.m.; and at the hearing, without a prosecutor present, finding there was no probable cause to hold the defendant and dismissing the charge.  Commission on Judicial Performance v. Peyton, 645 So. 2d 954 (Mississippi 1994).
• The New Jersey Supreme Court suspended a judge without pay for 6 months for, over the objections of defense counsel, permitting the city’s mayor to make a speech that was political and prejudicial to the defendants who were charged with multiple housing violations.  In the Matter of Fenster, 649 A.2d 393 (New Jersey 1994).
• Adopting the recommendation of the Judicial Hearing Board, the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals publicly admonished a judge who had entered a polling place while the polls were still open and where he was not registered to vote, which violated a state statute.  In the Matter Harshbarger, 450 S.E.2d 667 (West Virginia 1994).
• The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals publicly reprimanded a judge and fined her $500 for refusing to assist a woman seeking a protective order, then returning to her office to do paperwork, and later, agreeing to assist someone else.  In the Matter of Browning, 452 S.E. 2d 34 (West Virginia 1994).
• The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals publicly reprimanded a judge for presiding over a case in which one of the parties was represented by an attorney with whom the judge equally owned all the shares of a corporation that owned 106 acres of land, on which the judge and his family lived and for which he paid no rent.  In the Matter of Means, 452 S.E.2d 696 (West Virginia 1994).