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Willcox judge reprimanded
CAROL BROEDER
News-Sun
Judy Bethel, Willcox Justice of the Peace, was publicly reprimanded Thursday by the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The commission reprimanded Bethel for allowing herself to be assigned to cases "involving members of her family," it announced in a press release.
Bethel presides over Willcox's Justice Court, Precinct No. 4.
"Although the allegations could have led to formal charges," (Bethel) cooperated fully with the commission and agreed to accept a public reprimand in lieu of formal proceedings," said E. Keith Stott Jr., executive director of the commission.
The commission, whose office is in the Arizona State Courts Building in Phoenix, is an independent state agency charged with investigating complaints against judges.
During the course of the investigation, it became clear that Bethel was "operating under the mistaken belief that she could remain as the judge of record in cases involving family as long as she did not hear the cases," Stott said.
As a result, Bethel's name appeared on the files of cases assigned to mediation or in the process of settlement.
"In one instance, she signed a default judgment for her husband when the opposing party failed to answer the complaint," Stott said.
The commission's view is that the Arizona Code of Judicial Ethics requires judges to disqualify themselves in all cases involving close relatives, even in situations where a judge's role may be essentially ministerial.
"The commission is concerned that if judges were allowed to sit on such cases, then litigants could reasonably conclude that family members might have an unfair advantage during settlement negotiations or in other judicial proceedings," he said.
News-Sun
Judy Bethel, Willcox Justice of the Peace, was publicly reprimanded Thursday by the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct.
The commission reprimanded Bethel for allowing herself to be assigned to cases "involving members of her family," it announced in a press release.
Bethel presides over Willcox's Justice Court, Precinct No. 4.
"Although the allegations could have led to formal charges," (Bethel) cooperated fully with the commission and agreed to accept a public reprimand in lieu of formal proceedings," said E. Keith Stott Jr., executive director of the commission.
The commission, whose office is in the Arizona State Courts Building in Phoenix, is an independent state agency charged with investigating complaints against judges.
During the course of the investigation, it became clear that Bethel was "operating under the mistaken belief that she could remain as the judge of record in cases involving family as long as she did not hear the cases," Stott said.
As a result, Bethel's name appeared on the files of cases assigned to mediation or in the process of settlement.
"In one instance, she signed a default judgment for her husband when the opposing party failed to answer the complaint," Stott said.
The commission's view is that the Arizona Code of Judicial Ethics requires judges to disqualify themselves in all cases involving close relatives, even in situations where a judge's role may be essentially ministerial.
"The commission is concerned that if judges were allowed to sit on such cases, then litigants could reasonably conclude that family members might have an unfair advantage during settlement negotiations or in other judicial proceedings," he said.
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