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Case Summary for Complaint # 8521


Name: Joely O'Rourke

Title: Judge

Court: Lewis County Superior Court

County: Lewis

Discipline: Admonishment

Method of Resolution: Stipulation

Discipline Date: 03/09/2018

Canons Violated:Canon 1: Rules 1.1 and 1.2 and Canon 2: Rules 2.2 and 2.11(A)(6)(a)

Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, Lewis County Superior Court Judge Joely A. O'Rourke stipulated that she violated Canon 1 (Rules 1.1 and 1.2) and Canon 2 (Rules 2.2 and 2.11(A)(6)(a) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Judge O'Rourke violated the Code by presiding over a case in which she had previously served as the defendant's attorney and making comments attesting to the defendant's character which may have reasonably given the impression that she was not impartial in the matter. The Commission admonished Judge O'Rourke and ordered her to promptly read the Code.

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