- The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to issue a ruling in a dissolution case for almost 6 months and signing payroll certifications that did not reflect the matter as pending for more than 60 days. Astrowsky, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct May 19, 2020).
- The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to disqualify herself from cases involving an attorney against whom she appeared to be biased and prejudiced and failing to comply with disclosure and waiver requirements in cases involving the police department where her husband is a sergeant. Gregory, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct May 19, 2020).
- The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a part-time judge for using his judicial title/status in posts on the Facebook page for his campaign for sheriff. Barth, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct June 10, 2020).
- Based on the findings of 3 masters, the California Commission on Judicial Performance removed a justice on the court of appeal from office for (1) engaging in a pattern of unwelcome, undignified, discourteous, and offensive conduct toward a female appellate justice that would reasonably be perceived as sexual harassment, including multiple instances of unwanted touching; (2) making comments to a female highway patrol officer about her appearance and making comments to her that were unflattering about his wife; (3) engaging in unwelcome, undignified, and discourteous behavior toward 2 female research attorneys that would reasonably be perceived as sexual harassment; (4) engaging in inappropriate conduct toward 2 female judicial assistants, a female research attorney, and a female appellate justice; (5) displaying poor demeanor toward a female appellate justice, a female judicial assistant, a female research attorney, and a male research attorney; (6) engaging in a pattern of conduct toward 5 female attorneys who did not work for the court that demeaned the judicial office and lent the prestige of office to advance his personal interests; (7) appearing to be under the influence of alcohol on 7 occasions, 5 of which were at the courthouse late at night; and (8) using profanity to refer to 2 female justices when speaking to highway patrol officers. Inquiry Concerning Johnson, Decision and order (California Commission on Judicial Performance June 2, 2020).
- Accepting the determination of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the New York Court of Appeals removed a part-time judge from office for repeatedly using degrading, profane, vulgar, and sexist language in emails with 2 clients that insulted their daughter, opposing counsel, and the presiding court attorney referee, including using “an extremely crude gender-based slur to describe opposing counsel.” In the Matter of Senzer (New York Court of Appeals June 23, 2020).
- Accepting an agreed statement of facts and recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for failing to render decisions in 6 small claims cases for between 5 and 47 months, long after the time required by statute. In the Matter of Corretore, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 22, 2020).
- Accepting an agreed statement of facts and recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a non-lawyer judge for commenting about pending criminal charges and making disparaging comments about the defendant on 3 different dates in his courtroom, outside the presence of the defendant and his attorney. In the Matter of Pebler, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 17, 2020).
- Accepting an agreed statement and recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for, on 3 occasions, making inappropriate comments to and about lawyers and others and failing to disqualify himself from a probation violation matter after expressing negative views regarding the Department of Probation, a probation department employee, and an employee of the Department of Health. In the Matter of Gerber, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 27, 2020).
- Adopting the findings and recommendation of the Board of Professional Conduct, which were based on a stipulation, the Ohio Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for driving while under the influence of alcohol and making repeated non-responsive references to his judicial office after being stopped by a law enforcement officer. Disciplinary Counsel v. Gonzalez (Ohio Supreme Court June 11, 2020).
- Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for expressing his opposition to a building permit in emails to city officials that were sent from his work email address and identified him as a judge in the signature block; the judge also agreed to complete 1 hour of training. In re Lucas, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 26, 2020).
- Approving a resolution proposed by a special committee, the Judicial Council of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit publicly admonished a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin for the first 2 sentences of a law review article he wrote entitled, “The Roberts Court’s Assault on Democracy,” which was published in the Harvard Law Review. Resolution of Complaints Against Adelman (7th Circuit Judicial Council June 22, 2020).
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Judicial ethics and discipline 