Case Title: Matter of Gorby

Citation: 339 S.E.2d 702

Docket Number: 

State: west-virginia

Court: West Virginia Supreme Court

Date: 1985-12-11T00:00:00Z

Document:
339 S.E.2d 702 (1985) In the Matter of Magistrate Kenneth L. GORBY. No. 10-84. Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia. December 11, 1985. Charles R. Garten, Charleston, for Jud. Inv. Comm. David J. Romano, Young, Morgan, Cann & Romano, Clarksburg, for Gorby. McGRAW, Justice. The petitioner, Magistrate Kenneth L. Gorby, requests a reduction of his six month suspension without pay imposed by this Court on July 9, 1985, pursuant to our determination of his violation of Canon 2 A of the Judicial Code of Ethics with respect to a series of altercations initiated at a high *703 school football game. He asserts that since July 11, 1985, the effective date of the order, he has conducted himself in a respectable manner and in conformance with the mandates of the Judicial Code of Ethics. He further states in his petition that: It is well established that the purpose of judicial disciplinary proceedings is the preservation and enhancement of public confidence in the honor, dignity, integrity, and efficiency of the members of the judiciary and the system of justice. See Matter of Riley, 142 Ariz. 604, 615, 691 P.2d 695, 706 (1984); Wenger v. Commission on Judicial Performance, 29 Cal. 3d 615, 654, 175 Cal. Rptr. 420, 442, 630 P.2d 954, 976 (1981); In re Kelly, 238 So. 2d 565, 569 (Fla.1970); State ex rel. Commission on Judicial Qualifications v. Rome, 229 Kan. 195, 205-06, 623 P.2d 1307, 1317 (1981); Nicholson v. Judicial Retirement and Removal Commission, 562 S.W.2d 306, 308 (Ky.1978); In re Diener, 268 Md. 659, 670, 304 A.2d 587, 594 (1973); Matter of Storie, 574 S.W.2d 369, 373 (Mo.1978); Matter of Reeves, 63 N.Y.2d 105, 111, 480 N.Y.S.2d 463, 469 N.E.2d 1321, 1323 (1984); In re Wright, 313 N.C. 495, 499, 329 S.E.2d 668, 671 (1985). Furthermore, in certain limited circumstances, modification of a sanction imposed pursuant to a judicial disciplinary proceeding may be appropriate. See, e.g., Long v. Judicial Retirement and Removal Commission, 610 S.W.2d 614, 615 (Ky. 1980); State ex rel. Williams v. Haworth, 551 P.2d 676, 679 (Okl.Jud.1976). The petitioner in the instant proceeding is not only remorseful with respect to past misconduct, but evidences a heightened sensitivity to the maintenance of public respect for the judiciary and its officers. Accordingly, we hereby reduce Magistrate Gorby's suspension without pay from six months to five months, terminating on December 11, 1985. Period of Suspension Reduced to Five Months Without Pay.