Name: Debra Burchett
Title: Judge
Court: Cowlitz District Court
County: Cowlitz
Discipline: Reprimand
Method of Resolution: Stipulation
Discipline Date: 04/23/2021
Canons Violated:Canon 1: Rules 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 and Canon 2: Rules 2.2, 2.5(A), 2.6(A), 2.7 and 2.9(C)
Summary: From an agreed statement of facts, Cowlitz County District Court Judge Debra Burchett stipulated that she violated Canon 1, Rules 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3, and Canon 2, Rules 2.2, 2.5(A), 2.6(A) and 2.9(C), of the Code of Judicial Conduct. Judge Burchett violated the Code by failing to properly advise criminal defendants of their constitutional rights at probation review hearings; by engaging in an ex parte investigation of a probation matter; by eliciting statements against interest from criminal defendants; by recommending defendants use specific businesses; by presiding over cases in which a disqualification had previously been filed; and by failing to determine who was attempting to appear in court via Zoom, thereby not ensuring their right to be heard. The Commission reprimanded Judge Burchett and ordered her to complete four hours of ethics training, continue to work with a mentor judge and promptly read the Code.
Case Documents Available:
Stipulation, Agreement and Order of Reprimand filed 4/23/2021.