Rude judge suspended

OLYMPIA — A King County judge who has been compared to TV’s “Judge Judy” should be suspended without pay for five days for being rude to defendants in her courtroom, the state Supreme Court ruled today.

The sharply divided court said that King County District Judge Judith Eiler violated rules requiring judges to be “patient, dignified, and courteous” to defendants, lawyers and others when she used the terms “idiot” and “stupid” when talking to litigants. While five justices signed on for the five-day suspension, four others felt she should have faced a longer suspension. Read more.

Honestly, I know her behaviour is inappropriate, but still… there seems to be a lot of “idiot” litigants out there. Of course, your opinion may differ.