Name: Charles H. Thronson
Title: Judge
Court: Walla Walla Municipal Court
County: Walla Walla
Discipline: Admonishment
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 08/05/1994
Canons Violated:1, 2(A), 3(A)(3)
Summary: The Commission publicly admonished a judge who was rude in tone and manner to a defendant during a hearing in a case. The judge had called the defendant names such as "smart aleck," had told him to "shut up before you go to jail," and lectured him on being a loser. In response to the Commission's statement of allegations, the judge had stated that he seldom says such things and then only for good reason and that he believed that his behavior was justified because the case was a criminal matter and the defendant earlier had pled guilty. The judge stipulated that he had violated the Code, agreed to accept an admonishment, and agreed that he would exercise caution to avoid repeating the violation in the future.
Case Documents Available:
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 9/5/1994.