- Based on stipulated facts and legal conclusions and an agreement that included the justice’s retirement, the California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a former court of appeal justice for (1) a pattern of delay in deciding approximately 200 appellate matters over a 10-year period and (2) failing to properly exercise his administrative and supervisory authority as administrative presiding justice to prevent chronic delays in cases assigned to other justices on the court. In the Matter Concerning Raye, Decision and order (California Commission on Judicial Performance June 1, 2022).
- Based on the judge’s retirement and agreement not to seek, request, or accept any judicial office in the future in the state, the Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission resolved its investigation of a former part-time judge; the investigative panel had authorized a full investigation of conduct that indicated that he had been improperly involved as an attorney in several cases in his court; conduct that indicated that he had taken action on a few cases in his court in which he should have recused himself; and conduct that indicated that he had represented a party in personal litigation in another jurisdiction while the party regularly appeared before him in his judicial capacity. In re Zimmerman, Report of disposition (Georgia Judicial Qualifications Commission June 10, 2022).
- Based on the report and recommendation of the hearing panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, to which the judge had not objected, the Georgia Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for berating a bail bondsman who had criticized the judge on Facebook when a rape defendant whom the judge had released on his own recognizance after a mistrial failed to appear for his retrial. Inquiry Concerning Norris (Georgia Supreme Court June 22, 2022).
- Accepting a joint petition for consent discipline, the Louisiana Supreme Court suspended a former judge from the practice of law for 1 year and 1 day based on an investigation of allegations that, while he was a judge, he engaged in unwelcome touching of several women and acting inappropriately in the courtroom. In re Williams (Louisiana Supreme Court June 28, 2022).
- Accepting a stipulation based on the judge’s affirmation that she will not seek or accept judicial office in the future, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct concluded a proceeding against a former non-lawyer judge; in June 2021, the Commission had informed the judge that it was investigating a complaint about her failure to report to the State Comptroller moneys that she had received in connection with her duties as town justice. In the Matter of Inman, Decision and order (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 16, 2022).
- Based on an agreement for discipline by consent, the South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a non-lawyer magistrate for failing to allow the parties and their lawyers in cases involving the sheriff’s office time to consider the question of remittal outside his presence after disclosing that his wife was a captain in the sheriff’s office, failing to ensure that any agreements to waive disqualification were placed on the record, and failing to disclose when his wife had supervised the officers in a case. In the Matter of Barker (South Carolina Supreme Court June 15, 2022).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for refusing to accept a defendant’s guilty plea and, following her conviction, announcing his intention to appoint a new lawyer for a motion for new trial limited to punishment issues; the Commission also ordered that the judge receive 3 hours of instruction on criminal pleas with a mentor. Public Reprimand of Wilson and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 8, 2022).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for operating a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and causing a single car accident. Public Admonition of Moorehead (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 9, 2022).
- Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for saying “kicked that motherf*er’s a,” believing he was no longer on the line after a telephonic hearing but while the attorneys were still on the line and the courtroom’s audio recording was still activated. In re Dixon, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 24, 2022).
- Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for comments implying that a defendant might be raped in prison; the judge also agreed to participate in ethics training focused on appropriate courtroom demeanor. In re Amato, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 24, 2022).
- Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for significant delays in issuing decisions after hearings in 3 small claims cases. In re Howson, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct June 24, 2022).
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Judicial ethics and discipline 