Inquiry Concerning Judge Richard W. Stanford, Jr.

Summary

The court found that Judge Richard W. Stanford, Jr. committed nine instances of willful misconduct by diverting traffic matters involving friends, family, and a juror to his department and providing unusually favorable dispositions. For disciplinary purposes, it considered seven incidents occurring within the applicable six-year constitutional period and ordered his removal because the pattern created a two-track system of justice and seriously undermined public confidence. The court rejected the judge’s claim that he failed to recognize the impropriety of his conduct and concluded that removal was warranted regardless of whether his misconduct resulted from malice or ignorance.