Opinion ID: 2164075
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: findings and recommendation of board on judicial standards

Text: The Board on Judicial Standards hereby adopts the Findings of Fact of Judge Thomas J. Stahler, dated March 14, 1978, with the following exceptions, modifications and substitutions, as its Findings of Fact herein:
`That the record reveals that on March 4, 1963 the Respondent borrowed from the First National Bank of St. Paul the sum of $6,500.00 on an unsecured promissory note, which note was due and payable on March 16, 1964 and bearing interest at six percent per annum. This promissory note was co-signed by Peter C. Nielsen. The Respondent made no payment on this loan to the First National Bank of St. Paul on October 15, 1965 the note was paid by Peter C. Nielsen and the First National Bank of St. Paul endorsed the note over to Mr. Nielsen. On June 4, 1971 Attorney John Hannaford, acting on behalf of Peter C. Nielsen, mailed a promissory note and letter to the Respondent requesting that the promissory note to Mr. Nielsen for $6,500.00 be signed and returned by the Respondent. The Respondent made no response to the Hannaford letter, nor did he sign the promissory note that was enclosed therewith. Peter C. Nielsen died testate on May 12, 1973 and the Respondent signed the Final Decree of Distribution and Final Account of Distribution of representation in Peter C. Nielsen estate on September 17, 1975. That such conduct violated Canons 29 and 32 of the Canons of Judicial Ethics (adopted March 3, 1966) and Canon 4C(2) and (4) of the Standards of Judicial Responsibility (adopted March 29, 1972). That Respondent was fully aware, at the time of the death of Mr. Nielsen, that he owed such debt to decedent. That Respondent failed to produce evidence competent to show what amount, if any, of said debt had been repaid by the rendering of services in lobbying on behalf of legislation relating to a humane slaughter bill and an animal adoption center. That Respondent may not, consonant with Canons 23 and 24 of the Canons of Judicial Ethics (adopted March 3, 1966) carry on such lobbying activities for remuneration.' The Board rejects the Findings of Fact of the Referee commencing at line 19, Page 6 [line 23 page 5 of this opinion] of said Findings and concluding at line 30 page 8 [line 33 page 6 of this opinion] thereof. B. As to Findings regarding Paragraph IV(2) of the Complaint, the Board herewith adopts Findings # 1 and # 2 on Pages 13 and 14 [Pages 9 and 10 of this opinion] of the Referee's Findings and makes the following additional Finding: # 3. That the Board takes notice that the First National Bank of Stillwater was, during the course of rendering preferential treatment to Respondent, the only banking institution in Washington County with a Trust Department; that it was acting in a fiduciary capacity in many estates and guardianships in said County; that its fees for so acting were subject to the approval of the Judge of Probate Court of Washington County and subsequently of the assigned Judge of said County Court; that during the course of said preferential treatment Respondent was the Probate Judge of said County or a Judge of the said County Court frequently assigned to such responsibilities. The action of the Respondent as set out in the foregoing, constitutes a violation of Canon 5C(1). C. As to Finding # 7 re Paragraph IV(6) of the Complaint, as amended, the Board adopts the Referee's Finding Commencing at p. 51, line 11 [Page 32, line 57 of this opinion] thereof, with the following addition:  Finding: and that there was further misconduct by Respondent in his intemperate and abusive behavior toward Attorney Monson as established by the testimony and the contemporaneous memorandum of Mr. Monson of the events, and to some extent by the testimony of Attorney Griswold, in violation of Canon 3A(3). D. As to Finding, p. 57, [Page 37 of this opinion] re Paragraph IV (Charge) 8 of the Complaint, as amended, the Board rejects the Referee's Finding and hereby Finds: That no proof was allowed by the Referee to be presented by Petitioner as to Paragraph IV 8 of the Complaint because the Respondent had raised the defense of Statute of Limitations (MS Section 490.16 Subd. 3) at the Pre-Trial Conference; that the Referee had ruled, by Pre-Trial Order of October 12, 1977, that the statute applied to the substance of said charge; that consequently Paragraph IV 8 of the Complaint has not been litigated herein. E. As to the special Findings of the Referee commencing at p. 58, [Page 37 of this opinion] the Board accepts said special Findings as explanatory but not as excusing Respondent's conduct. F. The numerous incidents, clearly and convincingly shown by exhibits and the testimony of Messrs. Wrich, Harmon, Costello, Judge Bakke, Champion, Knefelkamp, Smith, Fillmore, Monson, Moosbrugger, Mr. and Mrs. Gearman, and Judge Albertson of abuse, intimidation and misbehavior toward litigants, attorneys and other public officials, together with Respondent's refusal to cooperate with the attempts of Chief Judge Albertson to administer the Washington County Court, indicate a continuing lack of judicial temperment [sic] on the part of Respondent. Such incidents include: 1. Respondent's sending of his intemperate letters of criticism not only to Judge Bakke, but to the attorneys involved in violation of Canon 1 of the Standards of Judicial Responsibility of March 29, 1972. 2. Respondent's acceptance of preferential treatment from the First National Bank of Stillwater in violation of Canons 5C(4)(b) and 5C(1). 3. Respondent's failure to comply with the pre-sentence requirements of MSA 169.126 in violation of Canon 3, Subd. A(1). 4. Respondent's threatening the County Coordinator and his failure to abide by the resolution of the County Board in violation of Canon 2A of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 5. Respondent's making of abusive phone calls to Mr. Howard Costello in violation of Canon 2A of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 6. Respondent's unprovoked verbal attack of Mr. James Wrich in violation of Canon 2A of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 7. Respondent's attempted intimidation, by threat of public criticism, of Mr. Lawrence Harmon in violation of Canon 2A of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 8. Respondent's public and abusive upbraiding of Mr. David E. Knefelkamp in violation of Canon 2A of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 9. Respondent's refusal to cooperate with Chief Judge Howard Albertson's `Judge of the Day' program in violation of Canon 3B(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 10. Respondent's failure to prepare and submit calendar schedules and reports as required by the Chief Judge of Washington County Court in violation of Canon 3B(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 11. Respondent's demonstrated disrespect of the County Court Chief Judge by insulting and cursing him in the presence of others in violation of Canon 3B(1) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 12. Respondent's intimidation of Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Gearman and verbal abuse of their attorney, Mr. Terry Smith, in violation of Canon 3A(3) and (4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 13. Respondent's refusal to allow Mr. Warren Fillmore to testify in his courtroom without justification and which constitutes conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice in violation of Canon 3A(3) and (4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 14. Respondent's misconduct in falsely accusing Attorney Robert Monson of coercing an individual to make a false affidavit and his verbal abuse of Mr. Monson in violation of Canon 3A(3) and (4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 15. Respondent's threats toward and refusal to hear evidence offered by Attorney Gordon Moosbrugger evidencing conduct prejudicial to the Administration of Justice in violation of Canon 3A(3) and (4) of the Code of Judicial Conduct, and establish a continuing pattern of the exercise of unjudicial temperment [sic] in the performance of Respondent's official duties.  Dated: August 25, 1978 /S/ George C. King George C. King Chairman, Board on Judicial Standards, State of Minnesota