- In a joint press release with the judge, the Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission reported that, given his resignation, the suspension of his law license, and his affirmation that he would not seek or accept any further judicial position, it has terminated its investigation of a complaint about a judge’s “running, management, and handling” of a municipal court. Wooten, Joint press release (Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission March 2, 2023).
- Based on an agreement and stipulation to resolve a complaint, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary publicly censured a former judge for anonymously sending to 18 media organizations and county officials a package with an anonymous letter criticizing the county commission, 2 county commissioners, and a police officer and a recording of a telephone call between the police officer and one of the commissioners in which racist and misogynistic language was used. In the Matter of King, Final judgment (Alabama Court of the Judiciary March 2, 2023).
- Accepting a joint agreement and proposed resolution, the Alabama Court of the Judiciary publicly censured a judge for his pattern and practice of appointing his brother-in-law as an attorney in indigent juvenile cases. In the Matter of Naman, Final judgment (Alabama Court of the Judiciary March 2, 2023).
- The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for making insulting, demeaning, and unnecessary statements to the parents in a juvenile matter, for example, stating “who do you think your baby is going to attach to, given that babies can’t wait? Not either of you” and telling the father, “Sit up straight. You’re not at home watching TV on the couch.” Kelliher, Order (Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct March 30, 2023).
- Based on the judge’s agreement, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission suspended a judge for 14 days without pay for denying appointment of counsel to defendants without making the necessary review of their indigent status. In re Ruttle, Agreed order of suspension (Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission March 1, 2023).
- With the judge’s agreement, the Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission publicly reprimanded a judge for ex parte communications in 2 cases. In re Atkins, Public reprimand (Kentucky Judicial Conduct Commission March 1, 2023).
- Adopting most of the findings of a 3-judge panel, the New Jersey Supreme Court removed a former judge from office and permanently barred her from holding judicial office in the State for her behavior at the school attended by her children that led to her conviction on a charge of defiant trespass, giving untruthful testimony at her criminal trial, and her behavior during her husband’s lawsuit against the school. In the Matter of Mullen, Order (New Jersey Supreme Court March 8, 2023).
- Accepting the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct, which was based on a stipulation of discipline by consent, the New Jersey Supreme Court permanently barred a former surrogate from judicial office and publicly censured her for presiding over a hearing on applications to be appointed administrator of an estate when one of the applicants was a friend, appointing that friend as administrator rather than appointing a relative of the decedent, and failing to disclose to Committee investigators the nature and extent of the relationship. In the Matter of Toledo, Order (New Jersey Supreme Court March 28, 2023).
- Granting a motion for summary determination that the factual allegations of the complaint were sustained and that the judge’s misconduct was established, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct removed a non-lawyer judge for (1) making sexually charged comments to and about attorneys appearing in his court and driving a car with inappropriate graphics and/or bumper stickers; (2) visibly carrying a handgun while inside or just outside the courthouse, in violation of his permit to carry a concealed pistol; (3) failing to timely report or remit court funds to the state comptroller; (4) failing to cooperate with the state court administrator’s office and town officials in their investigation of his failure to perform his administrative duties; (5) failing to answer 2 traffic tickets and failing to renew the insurance on his motor vehicle; (6) using his official judicial email account in connection with the tickets; and (7) failing to cooperate with the Commission’s investigation. In the Matter of Persons, Determination (New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct February 23, 2023).
- Based on its findings of misconduct, which were based on stipulations covering most of the factual issues, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline publicly reprimanded a judge and fined him $15,000 for remaining on the county Democratic committee after announcing his candidacy for magisterial district judge and voting for the committee to endorse him for the position. In re LeFever, Opinion and order (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline March 16, 2023).
- The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for failing to complete his required judicial education for the 2020-2021 and 2021-22 academic years. Public Reprimand of Black (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct March 2, 2023).
-
Follow
Following
Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
Judicial ethics and discipline 