10 years ago this month:

• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for saying,  “I know I shouldn’t say it, but I personally did not disagree with what you did” when he accepted a guilty plea from a motorcyclist who had been charged with assault for hitting a driver who had been following him closely, honking, and flipping him off.  Lester, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct June 1, 2012).
• Based on a stipulated resolution, the Arizona Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for taking additional testimony from a plaintiff in a harassment case after disconnecting from the defendant, who was appearing by telephone; failing to cooperate with requests from the Commission on Judicial Conduct; and making affirmative misrepresentations to the Commission.  Inquiry Concerning Parker, Order (Arizona Supreme Court June 4, 2012).
• Accepting the findings and recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission based on a stipulation, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for (1) being habitually tardy for hearings, first appearances, and trials and (2) making a statement introducing his religious beliefs into decision-making; the Court also ordered the judge to submit a letter of apology to the public, his fellow judges, and the legal community and to submit weekly logs for 1 year to special counsel to document his timeliness.  Inquiry Concerning Singbush, 93 So. 3d 188 (Florida 2012).
• Granting an application filed by the Commission on Judicial Qualifications, the Iowa Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for operating a vehicle while intoxicated.  In the Matter of Block, 816 N.W.2d 362 (Iowa 2012).
• Based on the judge’s resignation and withdrawal of her request for review, the New York Court of Appeals removed a judge in accordance with the findings of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct that she had (1) improperly intervened in the disposition of a speeding ticket issued to another judge’s wife and (2) accepted special consideration for a speeding ticket that had been issued to herself.  In the Matter of Schilling, Order (New York Court of Appeals June 19, 2012), accepting, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct May 8, 2012).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for participating in for-profit poker games and gratuitously referring to his judicial status when the police arrived to execute a search warrant.  In the Matter of Hensley, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 22, 2012).
• Accepting the determination of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the New York Court of Appeals removed a judge from office for presiding over 8 matters involving his paramour’s relatives without disclosing the conflict; engaging in ex parte communications with his paramour and her relatives concerning 4 of the matters; and making dispositions in 5 of the matters that conveyed an appearance of favoritism.  In the Matter of Young, 974 N.E.2d 658 (New York 2012).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for representing clients in 7 cases before other part-time lawyer-judges in the county in the 17 months after he became a judge.  In the Matter of Mercy, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 22, 2012).
• Pursuant to the judge’s agreement, the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary publicly reprimanded a judge for telling a group of defendants that he wished he could “pull a trap door” and send them “straight to hell right now.”  Re Houston (Tennessee Court of the Judiciary June 25, 2012).
• Pursuant to the judge’s agreement, the Tennessee Court of the Judiciary publicly reprimanded a judge for conducting a hearing and setting release conditions for a defendant accused of burglarizing the judge’s office.  Re Randolph, Letter of reprimand (Tennessee Court of the Judiciary June 15, 2012).