Judge Joely O’Rourke of Chehalis, WA; ethical goblin

The state of Washington presented Joely A. O’Rourke with a law license in 2008 after she graduated from Gonzaga University Law School.

The Judicial Commission on Conduct found Joely guilty of the following misconduct.

• Presided over case she previously served as the defendant’s attorney
• Made comments attesting to prior client’s character who appeared before her in her judicial capacity
• Gave the appearance of bias
• Failed to respect and comply with the law
• Failed to disqualify herself from a matter when required to so act

As a direct consequence of her misconduct, the cheerleaders for Judicial Misfits sitting on the Judicial Commission punished Joely by gifting her with a complimentary admonition.

As we speak (ca. April 2018), Joely continues to sit as a Lewis County Superior Court judge in Chehalis, Washington.