5 years ago this month:

• Pursuant to an agreed disposition, the Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct resolved a complaint that a judge made insensitive racial comments to another judge while in the judges’ lobby of the district court with his retirement and agreement not to seek appointment as a recall justice.  Creedon, Press release (Massachusetts Commission on Judicial Conduct October 17, 2016).
• Agreeing with the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Performance, the Mississippi Supreme Court removed a former judge for physically assaulting and directing racial slurs to a mentally disabled African-American man at a flea market.  Commission on Judicial Performance v. Weisenberger, 201 So. 3d 444 (Mississippi 2016).
• Based on agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for, on 3 occasions, asserting the prestige of judicial office while attempting to enter a county-owned building in possession of a firearm, in violation of a local law.  In the Matter of Moskos, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct October 3, 2016).
• Reviewing a determination of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the New York Court of Appeals removed a judge from office for (1) threatening to hold a student working in the court clerk’s office and other village employees in contempt, threatening to arrest the student with no lawful basis, and grabbing his arm; (2) threatening to hold various individuals in contempt without basis or authority in law for conduct outside the courtroom; (3) being rude and discourteous to village officials and employees; (4) imposing monetary sanctions against a legal services agency without basis or authority in law and discourtesy to the agency’s attorneys; and (5) permitting a candidate for county executive to quote him in a campaign press release.  In the Matter of Simon, 63 N.E.3d 1136 (New York 2016).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for threatening to hold an assistant district attorney in contempt, to declare a mistrial with prejudice and to impose sanctions on the district attorney’s office if a defendant was arrested for threatening a witness before the trial concluded, and yelling and acting discourteously toward the assistant district attorney.  In the Matter of Gary, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct October 3, 2016).
• The Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline removed a former judge from office based on his guilty plea in federal court to 2 counts of lying to a federal agent.  In re O’Neill, Opinion and order (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline October 27, 2016).
• Pursuant to an agreement, the Tennessee Board on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for intervening on behalf of an acquaintance with a jailer and another judge.  Re Anderson (Tennessee Board on Judicial Conduct October 24, 2016).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a justice of the peace for her handling of conflicting judgments in 2 eviction cases, her award of damages to a tenant in an eviction case, and Facebook posts that promoted the financial interests of a relative and a former judge.  Public Reprimand of Uresti and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct October 11, 2016).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a judge for driving while intoxicated.  Public Warning of Jeanes (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct October 20, 2016).