Case Title: In the Matter of Lawrence E. Barrett (JQC Public Reprimand)

Citation: 

Docket Number: S-17-1159

State: nebraska

Court: Nebraska Supreme Court

Date: 2018-01-26T00:00:00Z

Document:
BEFORE THE NEBRASKA COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS

In the matter of ) 17-059
sac 2017-019/s¢ 17-1159) |
) PUBLIC REPRIMAND |
awunce #. aARETT, ; FILED
County Judge for the Fourth)
Gudielal District of the) JAN 23 2018
State of Nebraska, }
) vores count
)

Respondent.

‘ouar Areas |
Neb. Rev. Stat. §24-715 (1995) et seq., and following waiver of

1. On-February 2, 2017, Judge Barrett presided over the

arraignment of a defendant on an alleged probation violation.

 

Defendant’s probation had been imposed as part of a guilty plea to
the offense of reckless driving, and its terms included abstinence
from possession or use of alcohol. The alleged probation violation |

before Judge Barrett on February 2, 2017, was based upon

 

allegations of defendant’s continued severe alcohol abuse. When
Judge Barrett called the case, defendant’s attorney appeared but
defendant was not in the courtroom. A woman stood and identified
herself to dudge Barrett as dofendant’s aunt, and told Judge
Barrett that defendant was “passed out in the car,” had been

drinking alcohol all night, had downed a bottle of tequila, and

a ONIN |
ane
the aunt was unable to get defendant out of the car and into the
courtroom, The judge put aside the case for a few minutes to handle
other matters. Approximately 15 minutes later, defendant was
brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair, and Judge Barrett re~
called the case. Both prosecutor and defendant's lawyer told Judge
Barrett that defendant would admit to the violation of probation
charge, whereupon Judge Barrett made routine inquiry of defendant
and the lawyers, then accepted defendant's guilty plea, revoked
probation, and imposed sentence. Inmediately thereafter, defendant
was taken into custody, tested at over 0.4 blood alcohol, content,
and was hospitalized.

2. A few days later, Judge Barrett was informed about a newspaper
inquiry into the matter, and extended to defendant the opportunity
to withdraw the plea and vacate the sentence, which offer was
declined.

3. Based upon the representations and information available to
him and upon defendant's presentation to him on February 2, 2017/
Judge Barrett knew or reasonably should have known defendant was
probably too intoxicated to enter a competent, knowing, and
voluntary guilty plea. Judge Barrett could have and should have
made additional reasonable inquiry, which inquiry would have
verified that defendant was not competent to enter a plea, even if

the ultimate result of such inquiry would have yielded the same

Legal outcome.
4, gudge Barrett’s conduct set forth above violates the Nebraska
Revised Code of Judicial Conduct, specifically:

§ 5-301,1: A judge shall comply with the law.

§ §-301.2: A judge shall act at all times in a
manner that promotes public confidence in the
independence, integrity, and impartiality of the
judiciary, and shall avoid impropriety and the
appearance of impropriety.

§ 5-302.6(A): A judge shall accord to every
person who has a legal interest in a proceeding ... the

right to be heard according to law.

5. gudge Barrett has no history of prior discipline and has
cooperated with the Conmission’s investigation, thereby justifying
no greater discipline than this public reprimand.

pated this Q3xSday of January, 2018.

JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION

24>

Michael ican, Chairperson