Name: Mary Ann Ottinger
Title: Judge
Court: King Co District East Division
County: King
Discipline: Censure & Suspension
Method of Resolution: Supreme Court affirmed
Discipline Date: 05/05/2006
Canons Violated:1, 2(A), 3(A)(1)
Summary: The Commission conducted a public hearing on allegations that Judge Mary Ann Ottinger of the King County District Court violated Canons 1, 2(A), and 3(A)(1) by routinely failing to adequately advise unrepresented criminal defendants of their constitutional due process rights. The Commission found that the misconduct occurred and was compounded by the fact that Respondent was previously censured by the Commission for similar behavior (CJC 3811-F-110). The Commission censured Judge Ottinger and recommended to the Washington State Supreme Court that she be suspended from office for thirty days without pay. The State Supreme Court affirmed the Commission's decision and suspended Judge Ottinger for thirty days.
Case Documents Available:
Supreme Court Order In re Ottinger, No. 200,389-3 filed 7/20/2006.
Commission Decision filed 5/5/2006.
Answer to Statement of Charges filed 6/30/2005.
Statement of Charges filed 6/14/2005.