Opinion ID: 2747225
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: interfere with the proper performance of

Text: judicial duties 25 The Hearing Board found two violations of Canon 4A. First, the Hearing Board found clear and convincing evidence establishing that Judge Wilfong’s illicit relationship with Mr. Carter cast reasonable doubt on her ability to act impartially as a judge, demeaned her office, and interfered with the proper performance of her judicial duties. Second, the Hearing Board found clear and convincing evidence that Judge Wilfong’s illicit relationship interfered with the proper performance of her statutory judicial duties as a member of the NCCC board, thereby casting doubt on her capacity to act impartially as a judge and demeaning her office. This Court’s authority is “confined to those situations for which there is an articulable nexus between the extrajudicial conduct and the judge’s duties.” In re Disciplinary Proceedings Against Turco, 137 Wash.2d 227, 244, 970 P.2d 731, 740 (1999). The record supports the Hearing Board’s finding that Judge Wilfong’s extrajudicial conduct with Mr. Carter demeaned her office, and reflected adversely on the judiciary and the perception of her ability to decide cases fairly. In other words, special counsel established an articulable nexus between the extrajudicial conduct and the judge’s duties. We therefore hold that Judge Wilfong committed these two violations of Canon 4A. In summary, like the Hearing Board, we find that Judge Wilfong committed eleven different violations of seven Canons of the Code of Judicial Conduct. 26