Name: Eileen Kato
Title: Judge
Court: King Co District West Division
County: King
Discipline: Reprimand
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 04/10/2009
Canons Violated:1, 2(A), 3(A)(1)
Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, the Commission found that King County District Court Judge Eileen Kato violated Canons 1, 2(A), and 3(A)(1) when she performed marriages without the requisite witnesses and then later obtained obtained witness signatures from people who were not, in fact, present as witnesses. Some of these non-attending "witnesses" were court staff in various capacities, all subordinate to the position of the judge. The Commission reprimanded Judge Kato and ordered her to promptly read and familiarize herself with the Code of Judicial Conduct. Judge Kato further agreed, and the Commission ordered, that she would attend and satisfactorily complete a judicial ethics program approved in advance.
Case Documents Available:
Certificate of Completion and Order filed 12/11/2009.
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Reprimand filed 4/10/2009.