Opinion ID: 4156928
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: A judge shall cooperate with other judges and court officials in the administration of court business.

Text: The comment to Rule 2.5 states: [2] A judge should seek the necessary docket time, court staff, expertise, and resources to discharge all adjudicative and administrative responsibilities. [3] Prompt disposition of the court’s business requires a judge to devote adequate time to judicial duties, to be punctual in attending court and expeditious in determining matters under submission . . . . [4] In disposing of matters promptly and efficiently, a judge must demonstrate due regard for the rights of parties to be heard and to have issues resolved without unnecessary cost or delay. A judge should monitor and supervise cases in ways that reduce or eliminate dilatory practices, avoidable delays, and unnecessary costs. Rule 2.7, N.D. Code Jud. Conduct, requires a judge to hear and decide matters assigned to the judge. [¶8] Judge Hagar admits he did not comply with docket currency standards but he claims there was not clear and convincing evidence he lacked diligence in performing his required duties and there was no evidence he failed to cooperate with the presiding judge. He specifically objects to the Commission’s conclusions of law related to two cases, Aberle v. Aberle and Ballou v. Platz . [¶9] In Aberle v. Aberle , a divorce trial was held on July 9-10, 2013. The parties moved to reopen the record on October 19, 2013. The record was reopened after a hearing, and Judge Hagar indicated he would reserve his decision on the property and debt division until after an evidentiary hearing. On December 9, 2013, a partial judgment granting the divorce was entered. On May 15, 2014, the court held an evidentiary hearing. In an August 19, 2014, letter to Judge Hagar, the presiding judge of the North Central Judicial District expressed his concern about the delinquency of the case. The remaining issues were not decided until approximately 13 months after the trial and more than 90 days after the evidentiary hearing when the parties reached a stipulation in late August 2014, settling property rights, spousal support, parenting time, and child support matters. A judgment, incorporating the parties’ settlement agreement, was entered on September 3, 2014. [¶10] On August 14, 2014, in Ballou v. Platz , Platz applied for an ex parte order compelling return of the parties’ child to his care, alleging he has primary residential responsibility for the child and Ballou was refusing to return the child after extended parenting time over the summer. Judge Hagar did not take any action on the application. In a September 12, 2014, letter to Judge Hagar, the presiding judge informed Judge Hagar that Platz filed a demand for a change of judge and it was granted. The presiding judge advised Judge Hagar that this was the third case that had been brought to his attention in less than one month for Judge Hagar’s failure to promptly issue a decision and he warned Judge Hagar that at some point he would be required to inform disciplinary counsel of these complaints. [¶11] The evidence clearly and convincingly shows Judge Hagar failed to issue a decision in the Aberle case for thirteen months after the divorce trial was completed despite receiving a letter from the presiding judge expressing concern about the delinquency of the case. Docket currency standards direct a judgment in a civil case to be entered within 90 days of the end of the trial. N.D. Sup. Ct. Admin. R. 12(2)(a)(1). Although the parties moved to reopen the record after the trial, Judge Hagar had already exceeded docket currency standards for entry of a judgment and a judgment was not entered until the parties reached a stipulation to settle the matter. Judge Hagar failed to provide any explanation about why he was unable to reach a decision in the case. He testified the parties hated each other, they told numerous lies about each other, and it was hard to tell which party was telling the truth. Judge Hagar testified he simply missed issuing an order on the ex parte motion in the Ballou case, he “didn’t get to it” and he did not have an excuse. He testified that he “missed [the case] somehow” and he did not remember it until the presiding judge gave him the letter about the demand for a change of judge. [¶12] Judge Hagar testified he developed a plan for docket currency after he was censured, which may have included a role for staff to assist him, but he has not used staff to assist him and he has tried to do his best to keep up with the caseloads since his suspension. The presiding judge testified he received complaints about the delayed decisions in a couple of the cases from attorneys involved in the cases, and he was also made aware of delays in other cases by courthouse staff. Judge Hagar testified he never followed up with the presiding judge after he received letters about the timeliness of certain cases and he never responded to the letters or talked to the presiding judge about the cases. [¶13] Judge Hagar admits he exceeded docket currency standards but claims the standards are arbitrary and his increased workload should be considered. Exceeding docket currency standards alone generally is not sufficient to constitute a violation of the rules resulting in discipline; rather, the facts and circumstances of each case must be considered. We recognize the North Central Judicial District has a shortage of judicial officers and delays may occur, but a judge must reach a decision on the issues in the case once the parties have presented their positions and the judge has all of the information. Judge Hagar failed to make a decision in the Aberle case for more than one year after the trial was completed, and he failed to reach a decision on the ex parte motion in the Ballou case. Judge Hagar did not explain why he was unable to decide these cases in a timely manner. Judge Hagar developed a plan to keep his docket current after he was censured, but he has failed to implement and follow that plan even after he was previously suspended for failing to timely issue decisions. Judge Hagar had control over these cases and he could have requested help from court staff to assist him in timely deciding cases. Judge Hagar also failed to respond to letters he received from the presiding judge expressing concern about the timeliness of certain decisions. [¶14] There is clear and convincing evidence Judge Hagar violated N.D. Code Jud. Conduct Rules 2.5 and 2.7.