Opinion ID: 874336
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: alleged prejudice of the judicial council

Text: Petitioner contends that the Council was prejudiced against him. He contends that the alleged prejudice is shown by two facts. First, the Council's notice of formal proceedings alleged two counts of violations of the Judicial Canons regarding travel expense vouchers when the Council had not previously given Petitioner notice of those allegations. The Council did not make any findings or recommendations regarding those counts. Therefore, that conduct does not indicate prejudice. It may have been different had the Council found violations that were clearly unsupported by the facts and law. Second, Petitioner contends that the letter dated October 7, 2008, from the Special Examiner hired by the Council shows that the Council had pre-judged the disciplinary proceedings. Petitioner's counsel had inquired whether the Council would be willing to mediate the matter. In response, the Special Examiner wrote back: I have passed your suggestion that we mediate the disciplinary case now pending against Judge Bradbury on to the Judicial Council for their review. The Council has authorized me to agree that, if your client admits to having violated I.C. §§ 1-803 and 809 by not actually residing in Idaho County during the past two years (Count I) and agrees to immediately take up full-time residence in Idaho County, we will mediate the question of what sanction should be imposed and drop all other charges. The Council feels strongly that Judge Bradbury's refusal to obey the relevant statute, even after having been warned by the Executive Director of the need to do so, cannot be mediated away as if it had never occurred. Petitioner argues that the second paragraph of the letter shows that the Council had already determined that he did not actually reside in Idaho County. When that paragraph is read in context with the preceding paragraph, it merely states that the Council would not mediate whether Petitioner was required to comply with Idaho Code §§ 1-803 and 1-809. Any mediation would be limited to the sanction imposed if Petitioner admitted the violation.