State of Washington Seal

State of Washington

Search Result


Case Summary for Complaint # 991


Name: Mark H. Adams

Title: Commissioner

Court: Court Of Appeals Div II

County: Pierce

Discipline: Resignation

Method of Resolution: Stipulation

Discipline Date: 08/26/1991

Canons Violated:1, 2

Summary: The Commission stipulated to closure of the case and a former court commissioner for the court of appeals stipulated that he would not serve in any judicial office in any state and would not seek judicial office in Washington without applying for and receiving a favorable recommendation from the Commission. Noting that in 1982, the commissioner had been charged with a misdemeanor trespass involving charges that he looked through a neighbor's window, the Commission stated that it had received allegations that he had put his hand in his pants pocket in the presence of female court employees that they perceived as inappropriately touching his genitals, asked female court personnel to arrange dates for him, discussed with female court personnel his out of office dating activities, and kept a personal diary that included references to his personal sexual experiences, and other behavior, that, if true, would evidence a pattern of behavior consistent with a medical/psychological condition relating to the prior criminal charge and made it inappropriate for him to hold judicial office. The commissioner denied the allegations of the complaint (except with respect to the diary, which he kept at the suggestion of a counselor) and the Commission's determination that his conduct violated the Code of Judicial Conduct but did not contest the determination.

Case Documents Available: