- The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to grant a continuance requested by an attorney who was experiencing COVID-19 symptoms or to make arrangements to allow the attorney to appear telephonically and then granting a default judgment against the attorney’s client, a defendant in a civil traffic case. Sears, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct January 26, 2022).
- Accepting an agreement, the Georgia Supreme Court suspended a judge for 30 days without pay and ordered that he be publicly reprimanded for engaging in a verbal altercation with a defendant in the courtroom and grabbing him and pushing him against the wall in the hallway. Inquiry Concerning Hays (Georgia Supreme Court February 1, 2022).
- Accepting a stipulation based on the judge’s affirmation that he has vacated his office and will not seek or accept judicial office in the future, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded a proceeding against a former judge; the Commission had been investigating a complaint alleging, inter alia, that the judge had encouraged a minor to have sex with his teenage son, offered her gifts and money in exchange for sexual favors, and provided her with alcoholic beverages. In the Matter of Wittlinger, Decision and order (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 3, 2022).
- Accepting a stipulation based on the judge’s affirmation that she has vacated her office and will not seek or accept judicial office in the future, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded a proceeding against a former judge; the Commission had been investigating a complaint alleging that, in her capacity as the Director of the Office of Justice Court Support, she arranged the hiring of the fiancée of a relative and retaliated against another Office employee for failing to vote with her on an interview panel. In the Matter of Sunukjian, Decision and order (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 3, 2022).
- Based on the findings of a referee following a hearing, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for, from approximately 2015 to 2017 (1) allowing her secretary to help plan her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah and perform other personal tasks for her and (2) allowing her young daughter to frequent the security checkpoint at the courthouse, which interfered with the duties of the court officers. In the Matter of Polk, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct January 24, 2022).
- Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for, during her campaign (1) posting an invitation to a fundraising event for the county Republican committee 4 times on her campaign Facebook page and (2) approving the content and distribution of campaign literature depicting a sample ballot falsely indicating that one of her opponents in the Republican primary would appear on a ballot line labeled, “Democrat.” In the Matter of Coffinger, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 23, 2022).
- Based on its finding of misconduct, which were based on stipulations of fact, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline publicly reprimanded a former judge for engaging in rude, loud outbursts towards counsel and witnesses in 6 cases. In re Placey, Opinion and order (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline February 14, 2022).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a judge for filing 12 campaign finance reports late from January 2006 through July 2021. Public Warning of Slaughter (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 16, 2022).
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Judicial ethics and discipline 