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SALT LAKE CITY — Two rural justice court judges have been issued sanctions by the Utah Supreme Court — including one who can never again hold judicial office in the state.
According to the Utah Judicial Conduct Commission's annual report for fiscal year 2011, which ended June 30, former Fillmore and Millard County Justice Court Judge Ronald Hare resigned and agreed to never hold office again after being arrested in April for exposing himself in a public restroom. He entered a plea in abeyance to disorderly conduct and was issued a censure.
Parowan Justice Court Judge Kenneth Adams was reprimanded in December 2010 after it was revealed that the judge was overseeing cases involving citations written by his son-in-law, who is Parowan's police chief.
"Judge Adams participated in court proceedings for 36 citations written by his son-in-law without having disqualified or remitted his disqualification," the report states. "In one additional case, Judge Adams granted a motion to disqualify that challenged the family relationship."
Former Fillmore and Millard County Justice Court Judge Ronald Hare resigned and agreed to never hold office again after being arrested in April for exposing himself in a public restroom.
Adams' actions were characterized as a violation of the code of judicial conduct that requires judges to "avoid the appearance of impropriety."
The judge was reprimanded, and he implemented a system that makes those contesting a citation issued by the judge's son-in-law aware of the family relationship. They are then given the choice of requesting a different judge.
Three complaints were ultimately dismissed, but still led to warnings for three justice court judges. One of them apparently referred to a prosecutor as the "persecutor" and once, upon hearing a baby cry, turned to the attorneys in the courtroom and asked if they had something to say.
"The JCC found that the misconduct was troubling but relatively minor misbehavior for which no public sanction was warranted," the report states.
Another justice court judge was issued a warning for making three comments his clerks felt were sexually suggestive in a five-year span. The judge had also forwarded an "off-color" joke to the clerks via email.
"The judge was extremely remorseful," according to the report. "He had not intended his comments to elicit a sexual response, cause discomfort or bring disrepute to the judiciary. "
Two reprimands and two dismissals with warnings were issued in fiscal year 2010. One of the reprimands went to a now-former Lehi Justice Court judge who pointed a gun at the court bailiff and a victim advocate as a "joke."
The Judicial Conduct Commission was established under the Utah Constitution in 1984. Prior to that, it existed as a legislatively created body. The commission is charged with investigating and conducting hearings on complaints made against judges at the state, county and municipal level.
The commission proposes their recommendations to the Utah Supreme Court which reviews them before they are imposed.
Email:emorgan@ksl.com
