North Carolina Lawyers Weekly
Faced with a fee dispute—which arose after respondent was appointed to the bench and had to withdraw from representing a client—respondent inappropriately invoked his judicial title to strongly challenge the jurisdiction of the State Bar over his conduct while ...
Read More »Judges – Discipline – Censure – Attorneys – Fee Dispute
Judges – Discipline – Censure – Locking Up Party – Notice 
When teenagers said they’d rather see their mother go to jail than participate in visitation with their father, the respondent-judge had the mother handcuffed and taken into custody without a hearing. Although the judge used this technique to try to ...
Read More »Judges – Discipline – Unreasonable Delay – Domestic Relations – Child Support – 30-Day Suspension
Where the respondent-judge failed to issue a ruling for more than five years on a motion for permanent child support, respondent violated several canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct, including Canon 3, which requires a judge to “dispose promptly ...
Read More »Judges – Discipline – Public Reprimand – Delayed Ruling
The respondent-judge, who otherwise has an exemplary record and excellent reputation, failed to issue a ruling for more than two years and three months after the last day of the hearing on the matter in question; such delay was without ...
Tagged with: discipline
Read More »Judges – Industrial Commission – Deputy Commissioner – Discipline – Public Reprimand
Clear, cogent and convincing evidence supports the Judicial Standards Commission’s finding that the respondent deputy commissioner was driving while impaired when he was involved in an accident. The Commission’s findings support its conclusions and recommendation that the deputy commissioner, who ...
Tagged with: discipline
Read More »Judges – Discipline – Censure – DWI & Belligerent Behavior
In re Judge LaBarre (Lawyers Weekly No. 010-034-17, 12 pp.) (Michael Morgan, J., for the court) N.C. S. Ct. Holding: An emergency judge drove while impaired and behaved belligerently towards law enforcement and emergency medical personnel. Respondent (1) failed to ...
Tagged with: discipline
Read More »Judges – Discipline – Jurisdiction – State Bar
North Carolina State Bar v. Tillett (Lawyers Weekly No. 010-024-17, 41 pp.) (Barbara Jackson, J.) (Mark Martin, C.J., joined by Robert Edmunds Jr., J., concurring) (Sam Ervin IV, J., joined by Robin Hudson & Cheri Beasley, JJ., concurring in the ...
Tagged with: discipline
Read More »Judges – Public Reprimand – Inappropriate Comments – Contempt Misuse
In re Judge Hill (Lawyers Weekly No. 15-06-1027, 9 pp.) (Sam Ervin IV, J., for the court) N.C. S. Ct. Holding: During a contentious custody hearing, the respondent-judge engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brought the ...
Read More »Judges — Partial Recusal – Attorney’s Fees – Contempt Motion – Domestic Relations
Zurosky v. Shaffer (Lawyers Weekly No. 15-16-0793, 12 pp.) (Douglas McCullough, J.) Appealed from Mecklenburg County District Court (Paige McThenia, J.) N.C. App. Unpub. Holding: Although the trial judge recused herself from considering a motion for attorney’s fees that was ...
Read More »Judges — Reprimand – Domestic Relations – Active Duty Soldier – SCRA – Attorneys
In re Judge Branch (Lawyers Weekly No. 15-06-0098, 11 pp.) (Cheri Beasley, J., for the court) (Sam Ervin IV, J., not participating) Upon recommendation by the Judicial Standards Commission. N.C. S. Ct. Holding: A lack of familiarity with the Servicemember’s ...
Tagged with: Judges
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