I know first-hand how important it is to be fair, impartial, patient and tough. I strive to be fair to everyone, including the state and victims of crime. Ammons said he does not believe he was hurt politically when he was censured in August 1996 by the state Supreme Court. The court acted on recommendation of the Judicial Standards Commission. The commission said that Ammons violated the Code of Judicial Conduct by ordering a woman arrested in a custody dispute and that he allowed a worthless-check trial of a friend, even though the case was not on the trial calendar.
Censure is a formal reprimand and has no effect on a judge's responsibilities or tenure in office.
Ammons accepted the censure, waiving his right to petition the Supreme Court for review or be heard on oral argument. He is married to Sandy Nasekos Ammons. They have two children. His father's career as an accountant took the Stiehl family to Lenoir County in 1972. Stiehl, a Democrat, graduated with honors from N.C State University with a degree in history.