State of Washington Seal

State of Washington

Search Result


Case Summary for Complaint # 259


Name: John T. Day

Title: Judge

Court: Skamania District Court

County: Skamania

Discipline: Disqualification

Method of Resolution: Stipulation

Discipline Date: 03/13/1985

Canons Violated:None

Summary: In a stipulation with the Commission, a judge of the Skamania County District Court agreed that (1) that he was physically disabled and was unable to carry on the duties of judicial office, and (2) that he would not during his lifetime ever seek, accept, or serve in any judicial office in the State of Washington or any other State. The judge also admitted that the following facts alleged in the Commission's Formal Complaint were substantially correct: Refusing to remove himself from a case in which he knew a party; Appearing in court while under the influence of alcohol; Identifying himself as a judge while attempting to have released defendants being held in another jurisdiction; Misusing the legal system for purposes of harassment and disregarding judicial decorum (e.g., (a) maliciously bringing a frivolous suit against ex-clients which resulted in a judgment against respondent, which judgment he then refused to pay, resulting in garnishment of his wages; (b) on his own initiative setting a hearing to determine the general fitness as a juror of a citizen who publicly criticized respondent's failure to prosecute certain actions; and (c) wrongfully attempting to prevent an attorney with whom he had a publicly known running feud from collecting statutory attorney's fees on a garnishment action in respondent's court). Holding discussions with non-parties and thereafter dismissing the case because the deputy prosecuting attorney was unprepared to answer claims made by these unnamed nonparties and the defendant that there was misconduct on the part of a tangentially involved police officer; Hearing cases involving a long-time acquaintance, clients and friends; Writing checks without having sufficient funds and initiating ex parte contact with another judge, in a case in which he was disqualified.

Case Documents Available: