Where applicable, the following public cases may include Commission decisions, statements of charges, answers to statements of charges, exhibits, and/or supreme court decisions. These documents are available for download as Adobe Acrobat PDF files.

In re the Honorable Andrew L. Monson

Pursuant to a stipulation and agreement with the judge, the Commission admonished a judge who did not enter a timely decision in a small claims case. The judge was also ordered to review the court rules and govern his conduct in accordance with them.

 

Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 10/2/1992.

In re the Honorable John Feutz

Pursuant to a stipulation and agreement with a judge, the Commission admonished a judge for failing in 5 cases to enter judgment within 15 days as required by court rules. The stipulation also stated that the judge's delay was caused in part, by an involuntary, temporary, disabling condition, and that knowing of his condition, the judge accepted and attempted to perform his duties when it was incumbent upon him to temporarily withdraw from assuming additional judicial duties. The judge was ordered to review the applicable court rules and govern his conduct in accordance with them.

Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 10/2/1992.

 

In re the Honorable Ralph G. Turco

Pursuant to a stipulation and agreement with the judge, the Commission censured a judge who had tossed a coin to decide a traffic infraction and entered a finding against the defendant when the defendant lost the coin toss. The judge was ordered to review the provisions of the Code of Judicial Conduct and the court traffic infraction rules.

Stipulation and Order filed 10/2/1992.

Answer to Statement of Charges filed 6/15/1992.

Statement of Charges filed 6/10/1992.

 

In re the Honorable Steve M . Clough

Pursuant to the stipulation of the judge, the Commission admonished a judge who had audibly stated on the record about a defendant on a traffic charge, "You don't think Mr. Breckenridge drives around baiting officers do ya, just hoping to get stopped so he can get a little debate going. What it looks like to me." The judge agreed to accept the admonishment and the Commission's determination that the conduct was a violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct and agreed not to engage in such conduct in the future.

 

Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 9/4/1992.

In re the Honorable Stanley K. Bruhn

Pursuant to a stipulation, the Commission publicly admonished a judge for tolerating inappropriate and disruptive demeanor and comments by defense counsel in a case, demonstrating a lack of patience and courtesy towards defense counsel when taxed by their behavior, and making inappropriate comments to one of the defense counsel when the attorney was in the courtroom during another case.

Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 8/7/1992.

 

In re the Honorable Harry R. Slusher

The Commission and a family law commissioner stipulated that, after becoming a commissioner, the commissioner had attempted to secure funds for his former client from which he would have been paid by communicating with an attorney for the other party to the matter and that that action constituted the practice of law. The commissioner agreed not to engage in such conduct in the future.

Stipulation and Agreement filed 4/3/1992.

 

In re the Honorable Gary W. Velie

The Commission reprimanded a judge who 1) had had an ex parte meeting with a minor who was the subject of a proceeding over which the judge was presiding; 2) had stated to an attorney in open court and in front of a female court reporter and female clerk that the attorney looked like he had been "jacking off a bobcat in a phone booth;" 3) during the armed conflict with Iraq, said "nuke the sand niggers" in the presence of others in the clerk's office coffee room in the courthouse; 4) had stated to two attorneys that a defendant in an old case "had gone crazy from sucking too many cocks," which made one of the attorney concerned that the judge may be prejudiced against homosexuals; and 5) during sentencing of an indigent defendant, had stated that a lot of the clients at a food bank of which his wife is president "were too stupid to cook what they are given but nobody is starving." In 1988, the Commission had dismissed allegations of racist and sexist language, embarrassing jokes, and ex parte contacts against the judge based on his statements to the Commission that he would take corrective action. The Commission found that the judge frequently used coarse language that, when viewed in isolation, was relatively minor, but contributed to the pattern of inappropriate behavior and that the judge's misconduct had had a negative effect on the judiciary and caused concern about his impartiality on the part of attorneys who appear before him. The Commission also ordered the judge to cease making disparaging or embarrassing comments while in the performance of official duties and while in and about the courthouse regardless whether such comments are made in jest; to refrain from ex parte communications; to take no retaliation, directly or indirectly, against witnesses or other persons who cooperated with the Commission in its investigation and proceeding; to complete a course approved by the Commission concerning judicial conduct at the National Judicial College within one year; and to cooperate with the Commission's monitoring of his compliance with the order. Several members of the Commission dissented from the finding that the judge had made a homophobic comment, noting that the judge could not recall it and another person present had denied that it was made, and from the finding regarding the ex parte communication because the judge's suggestion that the minor confer with him, although improper, was made in open court and counsel did not object.

Letter of Completion filed 2/8/1993.

Commission Decision filed 2/7/1992.

Answer to Amended Statement of Charges filed 10/30/1991.

Amended Statement of Charges filed 10/9/1991.

Answer to Statement of Charges filed 9/12/1991.

Statement of Charges filed 8/16/1991.