25 years ago this month:

• Pursuant to the judge’s consent, the California Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished a judge for (1) referring to 2 female juveniles charged with battery on 2 teachers as “b**ches” during an in-chambers conference with counsel and (2) stating that a male juvenile who had been forcibly restrained after appearing to charge toward the judge did not have a “Chinaman’s chance” of reaching him.  Inquiry Concerning Stevens, Decision and order imposing public admonishment (California Commission on Judicial Performance February 19, 1998).
• Adopting the recommendation of the Judicial Tenure Commission based on the judge’s consent, the Michigan Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for assessing fines, fees, and costs in ordinance cases in a way that reduced the city’s revenues following a dispute involving pension benefits for court employees.  In the Matter of Justin, 577 N.W.2d 71 (Michigan 1998).
• Affirming the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Performance, the Mississippi Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge and fined her $1,500 for the post-sentencing release of 2 prisoners, for ex parte communications in reference to those releases, and for suspending a former client’s sentence in 2 cases in which she had represented the client.  Commission on Judicial Performance v. Sanders, 708 So. 2d 866 (Mississippi 1998).
• Accepting the determination of the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, the New York Court of Appeals removed a judge for passing a note to his court attorney commenting on the physical attributes of a female law intern, suggesting to the intern that she remove her jacket in his presence, making false statements to the Commission, and giving deceitful responses to the governor’s screening committee and to the staff of the senate judiciary committee when they were considering his nomination to a different court.  In the Matter of Collazo, 691 N.E.2d 1021 (New York 1998).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct removed a judge for, between August 1995 and May 1997, failing to remit any funds to the state comptroller as required by statute even though she collected $5,990 in fines, fees, and surcharges, and for failing to answer the Commission’s inquiries.  In the Matter of Coble, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 5, 1998).
• Pursuant to an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for sending a letter to voters asking them to support several candidates who were running for non-judicial positions and to oppose their opponents, expressing concern about the financial condition of the village and the “huge tax increase that we are facing,” stating that “our hometown is being threatened,” and calling for the election of  “a new Mayor and new Trustees on our Village Board.”  In the Matter of Cacciatore, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 6, 1998).
• Pursuant to an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for making numerous comments to his secretary about the physical appearance and attributes of other women in the courthouse, boasting to her of his sexual prowess and experience with other women, commenting on her physical appearance, and telling her that he wanted to have sex with her.  In the Matter of Dye, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 6, 1998).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly censured a judge for keeping more than $450 of public monies that represented double reimbursement she had received for the same expenses.  In the Matter of Faso, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 5, 1998).
• Pursuant to an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for campaign advertisements that promised that he would jail every defendant who came before him charged with a violation of an order of protection.  In the Matter of Herrick, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 6, 1998).
• • Pursuant to an agreed statement of facts, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for writing to the judge presiding over the custody case of a friend and the husband of the judge’s former wife to influence the disposition of the case, identifying himself as a judge, claiming that his former wife had interfered with his visitation rights, making other accusations against his former wife and her husband, and offering to answer the presiding judge’s questions. In the Matter of Putnam, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 6, 1998).
• Pursuant to an agreement, the South Carolina Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a former judge who had pled guilty to 1 count of misconduct in office.  In the Matter of Pryor, 496 S.E.2d 630 (South Carolina 1998).
• A Texas Review Tribunal removed a judge from office for (1) making sexual comments and gestures to female attorneys appearing in his courtroom, (2) displaying impatience and disrespect to attorneys appearing before him, and (3) having a deputy sheriff confined pursuant to a writ of attachment.  In re Barr, 13 S.W.3d 525 (Texas Review Tribunal 1998).
• A Texas Review Tribunal removed a judge from office and barred him from holding judicial office for (1) asking another judge to submit a false report to the State Commission on Judicial Commission stating that he had complied with education requirements imposed by the Commission in a previous case, (2) when asked to pay a fee to park in a lot near the courthouse, stating that he was a judge and had not paid in the past, displaying his judicial identification badge, and calling the lot attendant the N-word, and (3) engaging in self-help to enforce an order he had entered in a small claims case.  In re Lowery, 999 S.W.2d 639 (Texas Review Tribunal 1998).