Name: Robert E. Miller, Sr.
Title: Judge
Court: Waitsburg Municipal Court
County: Walla Walla
Discipline: Reprimand
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 10/23/1989
Canons Violated:3(A)(1), 3(A)(4)
Summary: Pursuant to stipulation and agreement, the Commission admonished a judge of Waitsburg Municipal Court. The Commission found that on several occasions he did not comply with appropriate courtroom procedures contrary to Canons 3(A)(l) and 3(A)(4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Additionally, the judge agreed to resign from office. The agreement ended a proceeding in which the Commission charged that the judge: (1) demonstrated a pattern of conduct of making inappropriate remarks of a sexually explicit nature to persons in his courtroom; (2) failed to maintain a professional competence in the law, failed to determine the facts of a case before disposition, denied defendants the right to be heard or to trial, and otherwise committed procedural irregularities; (3) demonstrated a pattern of conduct of discussing pending cases with police officers ahead of trial and outside the presence of the individuals charged; and (4) failed to disqualify himself in a proceeding where he had personal knowledge of disputed evidentiary facts concerning the proceeding and in which the judge was the source of information for bringing the complaint against the defendant before him.
Case Documents Available:
Letter of Reprimand filed 10/23/1989.
Stipulation and Agreement filed 10/23/1989.
Answer to Statement of Charges filed 6/30/1989.
Statement of Charges filed 6/13/1989.