State Board Reprimands Wabasha Co. Judge Walters
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards has publicly reprimanded Wabasha County Judge Terrence M. Walters for rules violations.
The board says in one case, Walters was discourteous to a deaf psychologist who was being retained to see if a deaf defendant was competent. The psychologist withdrew.
In another case, Walters tried a defendant who was not in court. The board says the judge also refused to allow a public defender to ask if a defendant wanted to withdraw a guilty plea. And Walters failed to supervise his law clerk and approved the clerk's inaccurate timesheets.
The board ordered Walters to undergo anger management and find a mentor. He also has to write a letter of apology to the psychologist.
A phone message left for Walters was not immediately returned Tuesday.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)