5 years ago this month:

• Approving a stipulation, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for, during a felony criminal trial, loudly ordering his courtroom deputy in front of the jury to remove the defendant’s attorneys from a sidebar conference and then denying the defendant’s disqualification motion.  Inquiry Concerning Bailey, 267 So. 3d 992 (Florida 2019).
• Approving the parties’ stipulation and the recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission, the Florida Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for introducing partisan political activity into his re-election campaign by representing himself as a registered Republican while being interviewed by a newspaper’s editorial board and touting his endorsement by a partisan political organization affiliated with the Democratic Party.  Inquiry Concerning Kollra, 268 So. 3d 677 (Florida 2019).
• Based on a settlement agreement, the Michigan Supreme Court suspended a judge for 45 days without pay based on her guilty plea to disorderly conduct–littering and her admission to careless driving, a civil infraction.  In re McDonald, 925 N.W.2d 829 (Michigan 2019).
• Granting a joint motion for approval of the recommendation of the Commission on Judicial Performance based on stipulations of fact, the Mississippi Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge and fined him $1,683.34 for (1) failing to timely rule in 28 civil cases and (2) entering a judgment in favor of a plaintiff without holding a hearing on the merits of the case.  Commission on Judicial Performance v. McGee, 266 So. 3d 1003 (Mississippi 2019).
• Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Mississippi Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge and fined him $500 for ordering a deputy clerk to rescind a warrant for the arrest of his former girlfriend that had been issued based on his own affidavit.  Commission on Judicial Performance v. Burton, 268 So. 3d 565 (Mississippi 2019).
• Granting a petition to accept a stipulation agreement and consent to discipline, the New Mexico Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for, in a conversation with the county manager, threatening to have the governor veto funds for the county if the county did not provide the courthouse security measures the judge thought were necessary.  In the Matter of Mitchell, Order and public censure (New Mexico Supreme Court April 8, 2019).
• Granting a petition to accept an agreement, the New Mexico Supreme Court publicly censured a judge for a conflict with his next-door neighbors.  In the Matter of Guthrie, Order and public censure (New Mexico Supreme Court April 8, 2019).
• Adopting the findings of the Board on Professional Conduct based on stipulations of fact, the Ohio Supreme Court publicly reprimanded a judge for (1) presiding over numerous cases in which he had served as attorney of record and (2) failing to timely notify multiple clients that he was terminating his representation following his appointment to the bench.  Disciplinary Counsel v. Rusu, 128 N.E.3d 175 (Ohio 2019).
• Based on stipulations, the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline severely reprimanded a former judge and fined him $5,000 for engaging in sexual relations with the girlfriend of a treatment court defendant, sending her salacious text messages, and presiding in cases in which the attorney representing him in the investigation appeared.  In re Shaw, 192 A.3d 350 (Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline 2018), 207 A.3d 442 (April 2019).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly warned a judge for affirmatively allowing a photo constituting an endorsement of a candidate for county commissioner to be posted on his Facebook page.  Public Warning of Madrid (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct April 3, 2019).
• The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly reprimanded a judge for pulling traffic citations to have an assistant district attorney file a motion to dismiss and/or provide other preferential treatment; the Commission also ordered that he receive 20 hours of instruction with a mentor about traffic citations and warrants.  Public Reprimand of Trejo and Order of Additional Education (Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct April 26, 2019).
• Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a former judge for being unnecessarily confrontational toward litigants during hearings on 2 petitions for anti-harassment orders on the same day, including criticizing a domestic violence survivor for her relationship choices.  In re Meyer, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct April 26, 2019).
• Based on a stipulation and agreement, the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct publicly admonished a judge for delays of 392 days and 132 days in deciding 2 family law cases.  In re Fennessy, Stipulation, agreement, and order (Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct April 26, 2019).
• The West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission publicly admonished a magistrate for (1) failing to grant or deny a petition for a personal safety order but instead issuing an unauthorized “cooling off” order that had no force and effect and misrepresenting to the parties that, if they violated the order, they could be subject to criminal penalties, and (2) making inappropriate public comments about an unrelated family court matter after a disturbance related to that case in the hallway.  In the Matter of Williamson (West Virginia Judicial Investigation Commission April 26, 2019).