Opinion ID: 1949231
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: Charge IX:

Text: This concerns an incident in which a defendant was charged with battery and criminal mischief relating to a domestic quarrel. The complainants, who were the defendant's mother- and father-in-law, had brought charges against the defendant. When they were informed that respondent had dismissed all charges against the defendant, they attempted to discuss the matter with him. The complainants testified that, when they asked respondent about the matter, he threatened them with contempt and imprisonment for questioning his authority. Respondent argued that this incident was the result of a misunderstanding and involved no misconduct on his part. He explained that the complainants' daughter had reconciled with the defendant and had advised respondent that she would not press charges against him. Respondent argues that he dismissed only the charges filed by the daughter and did not dismiss the felony charges filed by the complainants. The Commission rejected respondent's assertion that the conversation never took place and found that respondent acted in a threatening manner toward the complainants, in violation of Canons 1, 2(A), and 3(A) of the Code of Judicial Conduct.