5 years ago this month:

• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a pro tem judge for promoting the use of a service provided by a company in which she has an ownership interest in settlement discussions in a family law case and including use of that product in the settlement agreement.  Jones-Sheldon, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct May 17, 2017).
• The California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a judge for (1) posting a statement about a judicial candidate on Facebook with knowing or reckless disregard for the truth of the statement and (2) being Facebook friends with attorneys who were appearing regularly before him in court.  In the Matter Concerning Ferguson, Public admonishment (California Commission on Judicial Performance May 31, 2017).
• Approving the recommendation of the hearing panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Supreme Court suspended a judge for 90 days without pay and publicly reprimanded her for knowingly misrepresenting a newspaper endorsement for her 1994 legislative re-election campaign to make it appear that she had received the newspaper’s endorsement for her 2014 judicial campaign.  Inquiry Concerning Shepard, 217 So. 3d 71 (Florida 2017).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for (1) invoking her judicial title and position in a letter she wrote on behalf of her childhood babysitter to be filed in connection with a motion to vacate her conviction and (2) writing 2 affirmations on behalf of her son to be filed in the appellate division in connection with his criminal case.  In the Matter of Ramirez, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct May 4, 2017).
• Adopting the findings and conclusions of the Judicial Standards Commission based on stipulations and accepting its recommendation based on the judge’s agreement, the North Carolina Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for driving while substantially impaired and belligerent, offensive, and denigrating behavior towards law enforcement and emergency personnel.  In re LaBarre, 798 S.E.2d 736 (North Carolina 2017).
• Adopting the recommendation of the Board of Professional Conduct based on stipulations, the Ohio Supreme Court suspended a former judge from the practice of law for 2 years for soliciting prostitution and falsifying a court record; the second year of the probation was stayed on the condition that he commit no further misconduct.  Ohio State Bar Association v. Jacob, 80 N.E.3d 440 (Ohio 2017).
• Accepting an agreement for discipline by consent, the South Carolina Supreme Court suspended a judge for 45 days without pay for a physical altercation after a meeting of a cotillion club.  In the Matter of Johnson, 800 S.E.2d 781 (South Carolina 2017).
• Affirming the determination of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Texas Special Court of Review publicly reprimanded a judge for engaging in an improper sexual relationship with his chief clerk.  In re Casey (Special Court of Review Appointed by the Texas Supreme Court May 9, 2017).
• Adopting the decision of the Judicial Conduct Board as its final order, the Vermont Supreme Court permanently suspended a judge from office, prohibited him from holding judicial office in Vermont, and publicly reprimanded him for (1) collecting and depositing into his personal bank account payments on loans even though the loans had been made with funds from his uncle’s wife and negotiating the forgiveness of the loans; (2) making a facially implausible claim against her estate; (3) failing to protect the assets of the estate; and (4) making false statements during a probate court hearing.  In re Kane, 169 A.3d 180 (Vermont 2017).
• Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for soliciting written endorsements from court employees in support of his judicial campaign.  In re Federspiel, Stipulation, agreement, and order of reprimand (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct May 12, 2017).