Opinion ID: 1444402
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Count Seventeen: Telling Clerk She Was in Contempt

Text: On August 12, 1992, petitioner met in his chambers with a court clerk to discuss her pending termination from employment. After petitioner informed the clerk of the meeting's purpose and that he was tape-recording their conversation, the clerk replied that she did not want to discuss the issue unless her union representative was present, and she started to leave. Petitioner then stated: Sit down.... I am ordering you to sit down here and talk to me. The clerk left petitioner's chambers. Petitioner followed her and ordered her back into the office, but she refused to come and made a telephone call. As she made the call, petitioner, who was upset, said loudly: [Y]ou are in contempt. Petitioner does not dispute the Commission's unanimous finding that he committed prejudicial misconduct in making this statement.