Name: Robert D. Austin
Title: Judge
Court: Spokane County Superior Court
County: Spokane
Discipline: Admonishment
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 08/04/2006
Canons Violated:1, 2(A), 3(A)(8)
Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, the Commission determined that Spokane County Superior Court Judge Robert Austin violated Canons 1, 2(A), and 3(A)(8) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Immediately following the conclusion of a jury trial in November of 2005, Judge Austin made comments to the jury that reasonably created the impression in the minds of the jurors that they reached the wrong verdict and had failed the system and/or disappointed the judge. As explained in the comment to the Canon: "Commending or criticizing jurors for their verdict may imply a judicial expectation in future cases and may impair a juror's ability to be fair and impartial in a subsequent case." The Commission admonished Judge Austin.
Case Documents Available:
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 8/4/2006.