Name: James W. Bates, Jr.
Title: Judge
Court: King County Superior Court
County: King
Discipline: Censure & Suspension
Method of Resolution: Supreme Court dismissed upon Judge Bates' passing
Discipline Date: 02/04/2000
Canons Violated:1, 2(A), 2(B), 3(A)(3)
Summary: The Commission and Judge James A. Bates, Jr. of the King County Superior Court stipulated that the judge had maintained a sexual relationship and lived with a court employee under his direct daily supervision for about six years during the mid-1980's. The parties stipulated that, although the judge would have produced evidence to the contrary at a hearing, evidence would show that the judge had made comments of a sexual nature at work that were not work-related with two additional subordinate employees. The judge agreed that the conduct described would support a determination that he violated Canons 1, 2(A), 2(B), and 3(A)(3) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The judge agreed to a censure and to take a course in sensitivity training. The judge further agreed to a one-month suspension. In agreeing to the sanction, the Commission took into account the judge's long term of service; the absence of prior disciplinary actions; the passage of time since the events; the judge's recognition that he should not have acted as he did; that the conduct did not occur in public and did not impact his action in court cases; and other mitigating factors. The State Supreme Court dismissed the stipulated recommendation to suspend the judge as moot following Judge Bates' passing.
Case Documents Available:
Supreme Court Order In re Honorable James W. Bates, Jr. In re Bates, 98-2911-F80 filed 2/17/2000.
Stipulation and Order of Censure - Recommendation of Suspension filed 2/4/2000.