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Pilshaw censured

Here is the judicial discipline decision in In re Pilshaw, No. 100,060 (June 27, 2008), climaxing the disciplinary proceedings against her previously blogged about here and here. The KSC publicly censured Judge Pilshaw for yelling at prospective jurors:

The aim of judicial discipline is "the maintenance of the honor and dignity of the judiciary and the proper administration of justice rather than the punishment of the individual." This principle directs the outcome in the respondent's case. The respondent's failure to control her temper and frustrations and her conduct toward potential members of the jury in open court greatly detracted from the honor and dignity of the judiciary. Her actions negatively impacted the proper administration of justice in a felony criminal case over which she presided. While we recognize that the Commission's recommendation is not binding on this court, our review of the entire record supports the Commission's recommendation that the appropriate discipline in the respondent's case is public censure.

Judge Pilshaw's was previously repremanded as reported here.

Here and here is coverage of the censure in the Wichita Eagle. I will be blogging about judicial candidates in Sedgwick County and, of course, Judge Pilshaw is one of those up for election.

Sort of odd that the KSC indicated it had complete confidence that any misconduct was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt in a first-degree murder case, but also finds that the same conduct merits public censure.

Full post as published by Kansas Defenders on June 29, 2008 (boomark / email).