10 years ago this month:

• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for inadvertently discussing the substance of a case in a casual, ex parte conversation with a court bailiff.  Bassett, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for making statements about the need for law enforcement to issue more citations in a presentation to the county board of supervisors about productivity credits for the courts.  Basteen, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for sending an email and initiating a telephone conversation with a psychologist to attempt to influence a family member’s custody dispute in another state.  Gottsfield, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for making statements impugning the integrity and professional conduct of an attorney appearing before him and making improper sarcastic remarks.  McClennen, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for providing incorrect information about her educational qualifications for her on-line judicial biography, inflating her qualifications on her resume, and falsely claiming to have completed or been excused from judicial training.  DeForest, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for issuing delayed rulings and then back-dating the orders so that the rulings would not appear delayed.  Peterson, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for filing a lawsuit on behalf of herself and her husband, clearly designating herself as counsel of record for both parties.  Segal, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a hearing officer for screaming repeatedly at individuals in the courtroom during 2 hearings; the Commission also directed her to attend the judicial demeanor portion of new judge orientation.  Martinez, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct December 4, 2012).
• The California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a judge for remarks he made while sentencing a defendant convicted of rape and other sexual assault that reflected outdated, biased, and insensitive views about sexual assault victims.  In the Matter Concerning Johnson, Decision and Order (California Commission on Judicial Performance December 13, 2012).
• Approving an agreement for discipline by consent, based on stipulations, the Maryland Court of Appeals suspended a judge for 5 days without pay for, without complying with the law and court rules, holding 28 individuals in direct contempt and imposing sanctions for allegedly having their cell phones turned on in the courtroom or slamming the courtroom door or other rude behavior while leaving the courtroom.  In the Matter of Stone, 56 A.3d 1244 (Maryland 2012).
• Adopting the findings and recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, which the judge accepted, the New Jersey Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a part-time judge for representing in 3 private legal matters an officer of the municipality where he sat.  In the Matter of Obuch, 56 A.3d 863 (New Jersey 2012).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for failing to report the counsel for the public administrator to law enforcement and disciplinary authorities and continuing to award him legal fees despite knowing that he had taken advance legal fees without court approval and/or fees in excess of the guidelines.  In the Matter of Holzman, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 13, 2012).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for (1) making an ex parte hospital visit to a juvenile in a delinquency proceeding, (2) being discourteous to a probation supervisor, (3) being discourteous to a lawyer, and (4) issuing a decision in a custody and visitation matter after foreclosing cross-examination by the parties and denying the attorneys an opportunity to be heard.  In the Matter of Buchanan, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 11, 2012).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for physically assaulting his girlfriend.  In the Matter of Horton, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 10, 2012).
• Accepting an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for making remarks that presumed a young defendant’s guilt, characterizing the defendant’s alleged conduct as “thuggery,” taunting him, questioning him about drugs he allegedly threw away, responding in kind to the defendant’s use of profane language, continuing the exchange of taunts and insults even after he had agreed to recuse himself, and convicting the defendant without a plea or trial.  In the Matter of McLeod, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 11, 2012).
• The Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for losing his temper during a sentencing hearing, over-reacting to a juvenile’s showing of disrespect in a second case, engaging in a demeaning and personal tirade against a juvenile in a third case, and making gratuitous comments about paternity tests, the Soviet Union, and the TV show CSI at a hearing on a motion for an order of protection in fourth case.  In re Wulle, Decision and Order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct December 14, 2012).