Name: Kathleen Hitchcock
Title: Judge
Court: Granger Municipal Court
County: Yakima
Discipline: Censure
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 10/03/2014
Canons Violated:Canon 1: Rules 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3
Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, the Commission found that Granger Municipal Court Judge Kathleen E. Hitchcock violated Canon 1, Rules 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct by driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and by gratuitously identifying herself as a judge to the arresting officer which created, at a minimum, the appearance that she was attempting to use the prestige of office to gain favorable treatment. Respondent was cooperative with the Commission and has had no prior disciplinary actions against her, but the Commission also found her failure to be forthright with the arresting officer and the fact that she was en route to the courthouse under the influence of alcohol to be aggravating factors. The Commission censured Judge Hitchcock and ordered her to strictly comply with all the terms of her probation in the underlying criminal case. She was also ordered, to complete ten hours of courses in judicial ethics and to obtain a drug and alcohol evaluation and to comply with all recommendations, making progress reports to the Commission every six months if treatment is recommended. Finally, she agreed to promptly read and familiarize herself with the Code of Judicial Conduct in its entirety.
Case Documents Available:
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Censure filed 10/4/2014.
Statement of Charges filed 7/18/2014.