25 years ago this month:

• Pursuant to the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Conduct, the Massachusetts Supreme Court publicly reprimanded an appellate court judge for statements he made during an oral argument that were critical of a union, its president, and the president’s family.  In the Matter of Brown, 691 N.E.2d 573 (Massachusetts 1998).
• The Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards publicly reprimanded a judge for voting as a county commissioner before he became a judge to approve property tax abatements for one of his clients and for a corporation in which he owned a 50% interest.  Public Reprimand of Finley (Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards March 13, 1998).
• Based on a joint motion for approval of the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Performance, the Mississippi Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for attempting to limit a litigant’s rights to execute on a judgement, then vacating the judgement without notice or a hearing.  Commission on Judicial Performance v. Fisher, 706 So. 2d 1107 (Mississippi 1998).
• The New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for failing to disclose that he had recently engaged in a business transaction with a plaintiff similar to that at issue in a case before him, ignoring a legal requirement that he swear in witnesses in small claims proceedings, and failing to re-try the matter once he learned of his error.  In the Matter of Barker, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 17, 1998).
• Based on an agreed statement of facts and joint recommendation, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for, before any proceeding had been filed, going to a recently purchased property, identifying himself to the residents as a town justice, stating that the new owner had called him several times about the residents vacating the property, and becoming embroiled in a heated discussion with their son, implying that the family would be evicted if a proceeding were commenced, and for then presiding over the eviction proceeding subsequently filed by the new owner.  In the Matter of Merrill, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 17, 1998).