25 years ago this month:

• Adopting the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Performance, the California Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for making sexually suggestive remarks to and asking sexually explicit questions of female staff members, using crude and demeaning names and descriptions and an ethnic slur when referring to staff members, referring to a fellow jurist’s physical attributes in a demeaning manner, and mailing sexually suggestive postcards to staff members.  In re Gordon, 917 P.2d 627 (California 1996).
• The California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a judge for (1) failing to disqualify himself in 4 cases in which the Walt Disney company was a litigant although he owned 1000 shares of Disney stock valued at approximately $45,000 and (2) writing 2 letters on court letterhead to a collection service regarding a claim against a member of his family.  Public Admonishment of Stoll (California Commission on Judicial Performance June 3, 1996).
• Accepting the determination of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the New York Court of Appeals removed a judge from office for improperly jailing 2 individuals for their purported failure to pay fines and restitution obligations that he had imposed.  In the Matter of Hamel, 668 N.E.2d 390 (New York 1996).
• Modifying the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Tenure and Discipline, the Rhode Island Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for (1) soliciting attorneys to purchase jewelry for the benefit of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in New Mexico; (2) permitting his chambers to be used for the sale of sweaters knit by a Russian immigrant nun for the benefit of an immigrant group; and (3) selling to several judges and approximately 40 attorneys who practiced in the court over $5,000 in raffle tickets for a spring weekend in Washington, D.C. that included a memorial regatta in honor of his deceased son.  In re Arrigan, 678 A.2d 446 (Rhode Island 1996).
• The West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission publicly admonished a candidate for receiving 2 donations to his campaign prior to designating a financial agent or treasurer for his campaign committee and submitting the first campaign financial report in his name and not the committee’s name.  In the Matter of Robb, Public Admonishment (West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission June 3, 1996).