The N.C. Judicial Standards Commission will not punish N.C. Appeals Court Judge Doug McCullough for his partisan comments during a speech in Haywood County.
Paul Ross, executive director of the commission, said in a letter that the commission has made "an effort to ensure such conduct is not repeated" by McCullough, a Republican who is seeking reelection, Titan Barksdale reports.
In his speech last month, McCullough, a Republican, implied that party politics and a party’s agenda can influence how an appellate judge decides a case. The commission was responding to a complaint filed by the husband of Rachel Lea Hunter, a lawyer planning to run against McCullough.
More after the jump.
A previous version of this post gave an incorrect title for Paul Ross. The post has been corrected.
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Judicial elections in North Carolina are non-partisan, and ethical rules require that judges must remain unswayed by partisan interests.
McCullough told the Haywood County Republicans that the reelection of N.C. Supreme Court Justice Bob Edmunds, who is also Republican, is the most "critical political decision" they would have to make.
A future lawsuit over the way legislative districts are drawn is likely, McCullough said to the Haywood Republicans. He added that due to gerrymandering, Democratic seats are in “safe areas,” and Edmunds, if reelected, would be on the bench to cast a vote on whether the districts are lawful.
McCullough has not returned phone calls to his office seeking comment.
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An effort?
What the heck does that mean? Talk about wishy-washy dissembling to avoid saying anything substantive.
What exactly did the Commission do? Did they say "pretty please don't be a partisan hack in public?" Did they smack him on the back of the hand? Why not explain to the citizens of North Carolina precisely what steps are taken in the face of such poor judgment?
It's no wonder people have declining confidence in our state's institutions.