Name: George Wynn Colby
Title: Judge
Court: Yakima District Court
County: Yakima
Discipline: Censure & Resignation
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 11/30/2000
Canons Violated:1, 2(A), 3(A)(1), 3(A)(5), 3(D)(1)(a)
Summary: On May 9, 2000, the Commission filed a Statement of Charges against Judge George W. Colby of the Yakima County District Court. The charges represented the culmination of the Commission's confidential, complex and lengthy investigation from multiple complainants over an extended period of time. By stipulation, Judge Colby admitted that he violated Canons 1, 2, 3(A)(1), 3(A)(5), and 3(D)(1)(a) of the Code of Judicial Conduct by entering improper orders beyond the court's jurisdiction; engaged in ex parte conversations; improperly used his contempt authority; exhibited intemperate behavior from the bench; presided over cases where he had a clear conflict of interest; and abused his judicial position for personal reasons. Although denying other charges, the judge agreed that if a hearing were held, the Commission would introduce convincing evidence to establish the many other facts alleged in the Statement of Charges. Among these charges were other instances of ex parte contact with defendants, failing to follow the law, improperly using or bringing alcohol on to the premises of the county courthouse, and failing to discharge his administrative responsibilities. Pursuant to agreement, the judge accepted a censure and agreed to resign from his judicial office.
Case Documents Available:
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Censure filed 11/30/2000.
Exhibit A filed 11/30/2000.
Answer to Statement of Charges filed 5/30/2000.
Statement of Charges filed 5/9/2000.