Name: David Meyer
Title: Judge
Court: King Co Dist. South Division
County: King
Discipline: Admonishment
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 04/26/2019
Canons Violated:Canon 1: Rules 1.1 and 1.2 and Canon 2: Rules 2.6(A), 2.8(A) and (B)
Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, former King County District Court Judge David Meyer stipulated that he violated Canon 1 (Rules 1.1 and 1.2) and Canon 2 (Rules 2.6(A), 2.8(A) and (B)) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Judge Meyer violated the Code when, during two hearings for Anti-Harassment Orders, he was unnecessarily confrontational, unreasonably limited the litigants' presentations of their respective cases, criticized a domestic violence survivor for her choice in relationships, and laughed at a response of a lawyer who was present for one of the hearings. Judge Meyer indicated that he believed this was a one-time lapse in appropriate demeanor and also noted that it occurred during what he described as a long and difficult calendar. The Commission admonished Judge Meyer and ordered him to promptly review the Code and complete two hours of courtroom demeanor training before resuming judicial service.
Case Documents Available:
Certificate and Order of Completion filed 6/28/2019.
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Admonishment filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 1 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 2 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 3 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 4 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 5 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 6 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 7 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 8 filed 4/26/2019.
Exhibit A: Audio Excerpt 9 filed 4/26/2019.