Issue

Judicial standards—censure recommendation adopted—factual findings supported

Summary

The Supreme Court accepted the Judicial Standards Commission's recommendation for the censure of respondent (a superior court judge) for violations of Canons 1, 2A, and 5F of the Code of Judicial Conduct–which amounted to conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice, brought the judicial branch into disrepute, and constituted willful misconduct in office. The Commission's findings were supported by clear and convincing evidence, including that respondent had asked a court employee in his jurisdiction to put forth to the senior resident superior court judge respondent's deficient motions to withdraw as an attorney from cases and continued to appear as an attorney while a sitting judge, but also that respondent was otherwise cooperative with the Commission's investigation, eventually took appropriate remedial measures, and had no prior disciplinary history with the Commission.

Summary from the North Carolina Reports digest (official subject index). Read the opinion →