10 years ago this month:

• The Arkansas Supreme Court suspended a judge without pay until the end of his term for practicing law and serving as a fiduciary of an estate of someone other than a family member.  Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission v. Simes, 354 S.W.3d 72 (Arkansas 2009).
• Approving the recommendation of the investigative panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for ordering that the victim in a domestic battery case be taken into custody.  Inquiry Concerning Bell, 23 So.3d 81 (Florida 2009).
• Accepting a stipulation, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for forming a relationship with a former defendant in her court who was a convicted felon with substance abuse problems and using her position to assist him.  Inquiry Concerning Henderson, 22 So. 3d 58 (Florida 2009).
• Approving a stipulation, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge and fined her $25,000 for a mailer distributed during her campaign that could be interpreted as an assertion that criminal defense attorneys were contributing to her opponent’s campaign to try to obtain her opponent’s favor and that, if re-elected, her opponent might favor such contributors and their clients on the bench.  Inquiry Concerning Baker (Florida Supreme Court November 5, 2009).
• Adopting a stipulation and joint recommendation, the Illinois Courts Commission publicly reprimanded a judge for driving while under the influence of alcohol, which resulted in an accident that damaged the other vehicle.  In re McGinnis, Order (Illinois Courts Commission November 18, 2009).
• Agreeing with the recommendation of the Judiciary Commission, the Louisiana Supreme Court removed a judge from office for failing to decide a case on the evidence and testimony presented at trial, allowing outside influences to dictate her decision, and failing to recuse despite her relationships with the plaintiff and his attorney and the ex parte attempts of another judge to influence her decision.  In re Benge, 24 So. 3d 822 (Louisiana 2009).
• Adopting the findings and recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, the New Jersey Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for using his judiciary e-mail account to communicate with his former law clerk about their romantic feelings even after the assignment judge advised him that it was inappropriate, making misleading statements to the Committee during its investigation, and making an unsolicited telephone call to the deputy public defender regarding his former law clerk’s interest in working for the office of law guardian.  In the Matter of DeBello, Order (New Jersey Supreme Court November 16, 2009).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a non-lawyer judge for (1) serious administrative errors in 11 traffic cases and (2) transferring 2 cases from his court, disqualifying both himself and his co-judge, without his co-judge’s knowledge or consent.  In the Matter of Engle, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct November 9, 2009).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a non-lawyer judge for (1) using his judicial power to effect the arrest of a motorist and then taking action in the case; (2) imposing a lenient disposition without disclosing an ex parte communication with the defendant’s mothers; (3) granting an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal without notice to or the consent of the prosecution; and (4) presiding over cases filed by members of the police department without disclosing his close friendship with the assistant chief of police.  In the Matter of Feeder, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct November 18, 2009).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for (1) misrepresenting in campaign literature that she had been endorsed by the New York Times; (2) campaign literature that displayed a pro-tenant bias; and (3) personally soliciting contributions during her campaign for judicial office.  In the Matter of Chan, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct November 17, 2009).
• Accepting an agreement for discipline by consent, the South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a former judge for embezzling public funds.  In the Matter of Allen, 685 S.E.2d 612 (South Carolina 2009).
• Based on a formal complaint filed by the Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission, the Virginia Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for thwarting circuit court review of her order that a juvenile be remanded to secure detention without bond, forcing the juvenile to remain in secure detention for 9 days before his writ of mandamus was granted.  Judicial Inquiry and Review Commission v. Taylor, 685 S.E.2d 51 (Virginia 2009).