In Re Dennis Cummings, Judge of the District Court, Fourth Judicial District at Bethel, Alaska

Summary

The Alaska Supreme Court held that Judge Cummings's retirement did not extinguish the Commission's or the court's jurisdiction to complete judicial discipline proceedings. After independently reviewing the record and giving some weight to the Commission's credibility determinations, the court found by clear and convincing evidence that Cummings intentionally engaged in improper ex parte communications designed to affect pending litigation. The court accepted the Commission's recommendation and removed Cummings from judicial office.