Title: In Re Inquiry Concerning a Judge: Clayton

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

504 So. 2d 394 (1987)
In re INQUIRY CONCERNING a JUDGE: Wiley G. CLAYTON.
No. 70006.

Supreme Court of Florida.
March 19, 1987.
John S. Rawls, General Counsel, Tallahassee, and Steven A. Werber, Special Counsel, Jacksonville, for the Judicial Qualifications Commission, petitioner.
John W. Tanner, Daytona Beach, for respondent.
OVERTON, Justice.
This proceeding is before us on an uncontested recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission for this Court to publicly reprimand Wiley G. Clayton, County Court Judge, Volusia County, Florida. The recommendation is based on a factual stipulation and the judge's admissions to improper ex parte judicial determination of criminal cases, contrary to Canon 3(A)(4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. We have jurisdiction, article V, section 12, Florida Constitution, and approve the recommendation.
The Judicial Qualifications Commission and Wiley G. Clayton entered into the following stipulated facts and admissions:
The Code of Judicial Conduct in Canon 3(A)(4) states that "[a] judge should accord to every person who is legally interested inM a proceeding, or his lawyer, full right to be heard according to law, and, except as authorized by law, neither initiate nor consider ex parte or other communications concerning a pending or impending proceeding." This canon implements a fundamental requirement for all judicial proceedings under our form of government. Except under limited circumstances, no party should be allowed the advantage of presenting matters to or having matters decided by the judge without notice to all other interested parties. This canon was written with the clear intent of excluding all ex parte communications except when they are expressly authorized by statutes or rules. E. Thode, Reporter's Notes to Code of Judicial Conduct (1973). In at least four instances, Judge Clayton violated this canon.
Accordingly, we approve the stipulation and recommendation of the Judicial Qualifications Commission and hereby publicly reprimand County Court Judge Wiley G. Clayton.
It is so ordered.
McDONALD, C.J., and EHRLICH, SHAW, BARKETT and KOGAN, JJ., concur.