TRI-CITIES, Wash. – A hearing panel with the Washington State Commission on Judicial Conduct filed on Fri., Sept. 6 that it believes that former Benton and Franklin Counties Superior Court Judge Sam Swanberg violated the Code of Judicial Conduct.
The Commission stated the following in a press release:
“Based on the foregoing Decision, the Commission finds that Judge Swanberg has violated Canon 1, Rules 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 of the Code of Judicial Conduct and issues a Censure, and recommends to the Washington State Supreme Court that the Respondent be removed from office and be disqualified from serving thereafter in any judicial capacity.”
The filing follows Swanberg’s temporarily removal from his position in 2022 for assault charges, the acquittal of those charges, the Commission’s own investigation into the charges and his subsequent resignation.
A press release from Swanberg’s personal attorney at Johnson & Orr alleged that the Commission was insisting for him to admit to the assault despite him being acquitted.
The Commission responded, stating that its proceeding is not a criminal prosecution and is used “to earn and maintain trust and confidence in the independence, impartiality and competence of the judiciary.”
Executive Director Reiko Callner also clarified that the proceeding is typical and done to hold judges to the highest standard.
The press release continues in part:
“The panel found, by clear, cogent and convincing evidence, that Judge Swanberg engaged in physically violent and emotionally abusive behavior over decades of his marriage to S.B., and that he harassed and stalked S.S., a woman with whom he had a romantic relationship after the termination of his marriage.”
The decision now heads to the State Supreme Court which will decide whether to bar Swanberg from serving in any judicial capacity in the future.
Below is the full press release from the Commission:
