Summary
The Iowa Supreme Court reviewed an application by the Iowa Commission on Judicial Qualifications concerning Associate Juvenile Judge Daniel Lee Block’s arrest and conviction for first-offense operating while intoxicated. The court found that his conduct substantially violated Canon 1 and rules 51:1.1 and 51:1.2 of the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct, and it publicly reprimanded him.
Holdings
- Judge Block's operation of a vehicle while intoxicated, together with his .135 alcohol concentration, speeding, erratic driving, and possession of open alcoholic beverage containers, constituted a substantial violation of Canon 1 and violations of rules 51:1.1 and 51:1.2.
- A private reprimand was not available after the court granted the Commission's formal application; the court was required to issue a public decree and therefore imposed a public reprimand.
Questions Presented
- Whether Judge Block's conduct surrounding his first-offense operating-while-intoxicated arrest constituted a substantial violation of Canon 1 and rules 51:1.1 and 51:1.2 of the Iowa Code of Judicial Conduct.
- What discipline was appropriate for the violations.
Disposition
other
Cases Cited (9)
- In re McCormick, 639 N.W.2d 12 (Iowa 2002)(followed)
- In re Weaver, 691 N.W.2d 725 (Iowa 2004)(followed)
- Miss. Comm’n on Judicial Performance v. Thomas, 722 So. 2d 629 (Miss. 1998)(persuasive)
- In re Gerard, 631 N.W.2d 271 (Iowa 2001)(followed)
- In re Hanley, 867 N.E.2d 157 (Ind. 2007)(persuasive)
- In re D’Ambrosio, 723 A.2d 943 (N.J. 1999)(persuasive)
- In re Resnick, 842 N.E.2d 31 (Ohio 2005)(persuasive)
- In re Binkoski, 515 S.E.2d 828 (W. Va. 1999)(persuasive)
- In re Brown, 625 N.W.2d 744 (Mich. 2000)(persuasive)
Cited In (0)
No citing cases on record yet.
Court Document
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