Municipal court judge is censured by commission

SEATAC - Municipal Court Judge Stephen Conroy, who recently quit his posts in Lynnwood and Edmonds, was censured yesterday by the state's Commission on Judicial Conduct for lying to investigators and presiding over cases involving people with whom he'd had "intimate relationships."

Conroy, 52, who served both Lynnwood and Edmonds for more than 10 years, presided over hearings last year in which he should have recused himself, commission member Todd Whitlock announced during a hearing yesterday.

Commission records released yesterday show it found that in one case, Conroy dismissed a traffic citation because he had an intimate relationship with the defendant.

In another case, he granted leniency to a defendant whom he had represented as an attorney. In addition, he presided over other cases involving defendants or witnesses with whom he had "intimate relationships," the records show.

The records do not reveal details about the cases in order to protect the identity of others involved, said commission spokesman David Akana. It is not known whether the instances noted by the commission occurred in Edmonds or Lynnwood.

During an interview last October, Conroy lied about the allegations during interviews with commission investigators, according to commission records.

The commission is composed of six nonlawyers, three judges and two lawyers who are selected by the Washington State Bar Association.

Conroy could not be reached for comment yesterday.

"He accepts full responsibility for his lapse in judgment and believes his resignation is appropriate," Conroy's laywer, Stephen Hayne, said yesterday in a written statement.

"He is proud of his 14 years of service to the citizens of Snohomish County and sincerely regrets having disappointed his many supporters."

Conroy served as a judge in Edmonds since 1986 and as Lynnwood's judge for the last 10 years. He split his time between the two cities, with a combined average of 27,000 court cases per year. Edmonds paid him $65,000 per year. In Lynnwood he earned $58.35 per hour, working an average of 100 hours per month.

Conroy did not appear at yesterday's public hearing, which riled some commission members who wanted him to be there in person for the censure.

"He's packing up his belongings right now," Hayne told the commission. "It's been a difficult day for him."

Conroy plans to open a private practice in Snohomish County, Hayne said. He would need approval from the commission if he ever wanted another judgeship in Washington.

Conroy submitted resignations to the Lynnwood and Edmonds mayors a month ago, citing only "personal reasons causing a heavy burden in my life." His resignations were to take effect yesterday.

Lynnwood Mayor Tina Roberts yesterday said she was aware the commission was investigating Conroy, but its investigation was confidential. "I had no basis for action on the part of the city. The commission has done its job, and it is time for the city to move forward," she said.

Lynnwood and Edmonds have arranged for temporary judges, so no interruption in court services is expected.

"We anticipated that the new judge will be appointed and in place by the beginning of the new year," Roberts said.

Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson has said he will take his time to find the right replacement. Edmonds city officials are studying scrapping the city's municipal court altogether and joining Snohomish County's district-court system, Haakenson said.