Case Against Tardy Judge Remanded

The Arizona Supreme Court rejected proposed discipline against a judge who was habitually tardy in arriving at court and had mistreated staff. The judge had a prior record of such misbehavior. The Commission on Judicial Conduct had improperly considered the impact of suspension from the bench on the judge's retirement benefits. Because the matter had been presented on agreed facts and discipline, the court remanded the case for a proceeding that will not take the financial impact issue into consideration. (Mike Frisch)