- The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for sua sponte dismissing 2 lawsuits in violation of the law and failing to submit a thorough response to the Commission. Cornejo, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct May 24, 2022).
- Based on the recommendation of the Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission pursuant to the judge’s agreement, the Arkansas Supreme Court suspended a judge for 90 days for a pattern of injudicious comments to defendants on irrelevant factors such as their appearance, background, ethnicity, and whether they lived in the county; the Court also ordered that he never again hold judicial office after his current term ends on December 31, 2024, but held 75 days of the suspension in abeyance subject to conditions. Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission v. Bourne, Per curiam (Arkansas Supreme Court August 9, 2022).
- Pursuant to the judge’s consent, the Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission publicly censured a judge for a pattern of failing to consider the legal standard for appointing the public defender for misdemeanor defendants. Bourne, Letter of censure and recommendation of suspension (Arkansas Judicial Discipline & Disability Commission August 1, 2022).
- Adopting the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Discipline, which was based on a stipulation, the Colorado Supreme Court suspended a judge from office for 30 days without pay and publicly censured him for pointing an AR-15 style rifle at his adult stepson during a confrontation. In the Matter of Thompson (Colorado Supreme Court August 29, 2022).
- Accepting a discipline by consent agreement and the recommendation of the hearing panel of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Georgia Supreme Court suspended a judge for 90 days without pay and ordered that she be publicly reprimanded for (1) from September 2015 through February 2018, regularly arriving to work at the courthouse much later than when she was scheduled to preside over court matters; (2) being absent from work approximately 40 days in 2016, 63 days in 2017, and 19 days from January 1 through July 17, 2018; and (3) refusing to provide at least 6 in-custody defendants their opportunity to appear in court to which they were entitled by law, resulting in their remaining incarcerated for days after they would have been entitled to release. Inquiry Concerning Gundy (Georgia Supreme Court August 23, 2022).
- With the judge’s approval and acceptance, the Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct has ordered a judge cease and desist from failing to hear and decide matters assigned to her based on an April 2022 complaint alleging that the judge had not ruled on the complainant’s motion to reconsider a memorandum of judgment and decree of divorce after hearing the motion on November 9, 2021. Inquiry Concerning Kirby, Order (Kansas Commission on Judicial Conduct August 3, 2022).
- Based on a stipulation and the judge’s consent, the Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to issue a written divorce decree for over 3 years after presiding over the trial and failing to resolve and issue orders on other post-trial matters. In re Saitta, Stipulation and order of consent (Nevada Commission on Judicial Discipline August 1, 2022).
- Accepting a stipulation based on the judge’s resignation and 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; in June 2021, the Commission asked the judge to respond to the complaint it was investigating that she had failed to file reports or remit funds to the Office of the State Comptroller in the time required by law for November and December 2019, resulting in her judicial salary being stopped on May 20, 2020. In the Matter of Matthews, Decision and order (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August, 2022).
- Accepting an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for appearing at a small claims proceeding as if he were an attorney to advocate for his wife, who was a defendant, referring to his judicial status during the proceeding, and disparaging the plaintiff. In the Matter of Kennedy, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 24, 2022).
- Accepting an agreement for discipline by consent, the South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a magistrate for cursing at an attorney in open court and, in a separate incident, loudly complaining to the chief magistrate and yelling at the scheduling clerk about not receiving timely notice of a jury trial; the Court also ordered that the magistrate complete at least an additional 20 hours of anger management counseling. In the Matter of Martin (South Carolina Supreme Court August 31, 2022).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a judge for sexually harassing his court clerk, including telling crude jokes of a sexual nature and making comments about her clothes, and creating an intimidating, hostile and offensive work environment. Public Warning of Grissam (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 22, 2022).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for, during jury selection in a case, referring to COVID-19 as the “China Virus;” stating, “yeah, I said it!” and “the attorneys would be upset I said that;” calling some of the required questions for potential jurors “stupid;” and commenting, “I don’t know why I have to ask this;” the Commission also ordered the judge to obtain 1 hour of instruction with a mentor about courtroom demeanor. Public Admonition of Low and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 22, 2022), on review to special court of review.
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for failing to withdraw as attorney of record in at least 10 cases after becoming a judge. Public Admonition of Lucas (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 29, 2022).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a former judge for failing to obtain his required judicial education. Public Warning of Salinas (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct August 10, 2022).
- The West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission publicly admonished a magistrate for wearing a law enforcement uniform in advertisements and social media posts for his campaign and appearing in photographs with campaign signs advocating the election of other candidates. In the Matter of Jeffries (West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission August 16, 2022).
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Judicial ethics and discipline 