5 years ago this month:

• Based on a stipulated resolution, the Arizona Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for statements during her re-election campaign.  In the Matter of Segal, Order (Arizona Supreme Court December 11, 2014).
• The California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a judge for driving while under the influence of alcohol.  Public Admonishment of Scott (California Commission on Judicial Performance December 30, 2014).
• Based on a complaint by the Judicial Inquiry Board, which the judge admitted, the Illinois Court Commission reprimanded a judge for driving under the influence of alcohol.  In re Hettel, Order (Illinois Court Commission December 22, 2014).
• Based on a statement of circumstances and conditional agreement for discipline, the Indiana Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for driving under the influence of alcohol, ordered that he submit his resignation effective December 31, 2014, and ordered that he be ineligible for future judicial service in Indiana unless/until he successfully completes a 2-year monitoring agreement and treatment plan approved by Indiana Judges and Lawyers Assistance Program.  In the Matter of Weber, 21 N.E.3d 92 (Indiana 2014).
• Pursuant to the judge’s agreement, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission reprimanded a judge for unnecessary and undignified comments from the bench that were inconsistent with the presumption of innocence.  In re McLaughlin (Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission December 29, 2014)
• Accepting the recommendation of the Judiciary Commission, the Louisiana Supreme Court suspended a judge for 30 days without pay for (1) engaging in improper ex parte communications with counsel for a party regarding the judge’s disqualification and (2) taking an all-expenses-paid trip on a private jet to a hunting ranch with attorneys in a case shortly after the case was concluded.  In re Free, 158 So. 3d 771 (Louisiana 2014).
• Pursuant to the judge’s waiver, the Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities released its private reprimand of a judge for delay.  In the Matter of Carr, Private reprimand (Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities December 16, 2014).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for failing to disclose that a key prosecution witness in a disorderly conduct case was the daughter of the court clerk; permitting the court clerk to perform her duties in the case and to be in the courtroom during the trial; and, after convicting and sentencing the defendant, sending a letter to the county court judge hearing the appeal that contained legal arguments and facts outside the record.  In the Matter of Gumo, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 30, 2014).
• The Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for filing a complaint against an attorney with the Board of Professional Responsibility in retaliation for the complaint the attorney had filed with the Board of Judicial Conduct.  In re Donald, Opinion (Tennessee Board of Judicial Conduct December 15, 2014).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for intervening in a private dispute between a contractor and an electrician when no case was pending in his court and meeting with a witness and the parties to the dispute; the Commission also ordered the judge to obtain 2 hours of instruction with a mentor judge.  Public Reprimand of DeLaPaz and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 19, 2014).
• Pursuant to a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for his demeanor and comments in a private meeting with 2 court administrators that could reasonably have been interpreted as threatening, intimidating, and/or retaliatory.  In re Goodwin, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 5, 2014).