Name: Eugene C. Anderson
Title: Judge
Court: Skagit Co District Court
County: Skagit
Discipline: Admonishment
Method of Resolution: Decision
Discipline Date: 09/07/1990
Canons Violated:3(A)(5)
Summary: Adopting the report and recommendation of a fact-finder, the Commission admonished a district court judge who failed to rule on two motions in one case from May 1987 until December 11, 1989. The motions had originally been noted for hearing on May 4, 1987; that hearing was continued to June 15, 1987, but the judge told the attorneys they did not need to appear on that date. Between November 1987 and November 1988, the movant's attorney had made several inquiries about expediting the matter, but the judge did not respond. On October 9, 1989, the Commission informed the judge that the Commission had determined his failure to rule was in violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct. On October 23, 1989, the judge scheduled a hearing, and he ruled on the motions on December 11, 1989. The judge said a decision had not been reached earlier because neither attorney had noted the matter for a hearing, but the Commission found that the judge had told the attorneys that they did not need to appear at the June 1987 hearing. The Commission also rejected the judge's contention that he would have been assisting one party to the litigation if he had responded to the movant's requests for direction. The Commission stated that the judge could simply have directed the clerk to instruct both attorneys to note all outstanding matters for hearing.
Case Documents Available:
Commission Decision filed 9/7/1990.
Amended Statement of Charges filed 2/8/1990.
Answer to Statement of Charges filed 2/6/1990.
Statement of Charges filed 1/22/1990.