Judge Flood asks Washington Supreme Court to halt Commission on Judicial Conduct proceedings

At a virtual hearing, Commissioner Michael Johnson of the Washington Supreme Court heard argument on a petition by Judge Tracy S. Flood asking the court to issue a writ of prohibition to stop the Commission on Judicial Conduct from pursuing disciplinary proceedings.

Ms. Sargent, counsel for Judge Flood, told the court that the commission exceeded its constitutional authority and failed to follow required procedures. She said the commission did not provide proper notice of the charges, allowed the partner of a decisionmaker to be hired in a way she described as an ethical lapse, had alternates and staff present during decision steps, and improperly delegated discovery decisions to disciplinary counsel. "We would like this court to issue a writ of prohibition to prohibit the Commission on…