Name: Merle Krouse
Title: Judge
Court: Lewis District Court
County: Lewis
Discipline: Reprimand
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 06/10/2005
Canons Violated:1, 2(A), 2(B), 7(A)(1)(f), 7(B)(2)
Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, the Commission determined that former Lewis County District Court Judge Merle Krouse violated the Code of Judicial Conduct (a) through his re-election campaign committee chairperson sending emails soliciting monetary contributions which appeared to be sent directly by former Judge Krouse; (b) by questioning an attorney in his courtroom, immediately after a court hearing, for apparently supporting former Judge Krouse's judicial campaign opponent; and (c) for attending a political function for a nonjudicial candidate and personally contributing money to that nonjudicial candidate's election campaign. The Commission determined, and Judge Krouse agreed, that his conduct violated Canons 1, 2(A), 2(B), 7(A)(1)(f) and 7(B)(2) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. The Commission reprimanded former Judge Krouse and ordered him to familiarize himself with the Code of Judicial Conduct. He also agreed that before he again sought election to a judicial office he would complete a course on judicial campaign ethics.
Case Documents Available:
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Reprimand filed 6/10/2005.