5 years ago this month:

• Adopting a joint resolution based on an agreement and stipulation, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary suspended a judge for 11 months without pay for incarcerating traffic offenders for non-payment of fines and costs without inquiring into the reasons for non-payment, in clear violation of state law; incarcerating offenders for months without a written order; and delegating judicial authority to a private probation company.  In the Matter of Hayes, Final judgment (Alabama Court of the Judiciary January 6, 2017).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for gathering signatures for 5 nominating petitions for her judicial precinct’s constable.  Felix, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct February 6, 2017).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for multiple errors in an eviction proceeding; the Commission also directed the judge to complete additional training.  Carrillo, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct February 6, 2017).
• Agreeing with a statement of circumstances and conditional agreement for discipline, the Indiana Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a senior judge who had been arrested and convicted for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.  In the Matter of Page, 69 N.E.3d 470 (Indiana 2017).
• Based on an agreement, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission publicly reprimanded a former judge for engaging in a sexual relationship with a woman who was a defendant in a felony criminal case over which he was presiding and several ex parte communications with her about her case. In re Dortch, Public reprimand (Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission February 24, 2017).
• Based on his consent and agreement not to serve in a judicial position, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline publicly censured a former judge for ordering a public defender handcuffed and holding her in contempt of court and holding 3 defendants in contempt without entering the necessary written order of contempt.  In the Matter of Hafen, Stipulation and order of consent (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline February 27, 2017).
• Based on the judge’s consent, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline publicly reprimanded a judge for falsely claiming in a campaign ad that he had been endorsed by 5 state agencies that had not endorsed him and do not endorse political candidates.  In the Matter of Smith, Stipulation and order of consent (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline February 27, 2017).
• The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals suspended a judge for 2 years without pay and fined him $15,000 for a campaign flyer that portrayed his opponent, the incumbent judge, partying at the White House with President Obama.  In the Matter of Callaghan, 796 S.E.2d 604 (West Virginia 2017).