Name: Rick Porter
Title: Judge
Court: Clallam District Court #1
County: Clallam
Discipline: Admonishment
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 05/10/2013
Canons Violated:Canon 1: Rules 1.1 and 1.2, Canon 2: Rules 2.2, 2.9, 2.11
Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, Clallam County District Court Judge Rick L. Porter stipulated that he violated Canon 1 (Rule 1.1 and 1.2) and Canon 2 (Rule 2.11) of the Code of Judicial Conduct by signing at least ten bench warrants in cases in which he had been disqualified by affidavits of prejudice. The bench warrants were issued through a Pay or Appear probationary compliance program set in place by Judge Porter. The program was without safeguards to ensure the judge did not take action in cases from which he had been disqualified. He additionally agreed that he violated Canon 2 (Rule 2.2 and 2.9) of the Code when he failed to disclose ex parte communications. Judge Porter also stipulated that he received unsolicited factual assertions about a defendant from a court clerk that the defendant was submitting false information to the court. He failed to timely disclose and apparently relied on this information in ruling on the defendant's case. The Commission admonished the judge.
Case Documents Available:
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 5/10/2013.