A Cochise County judge with a history of violating Arizona judicial law has once again been formally disciplined.
Judicial Conduct Committee reprimanded Cochise County Superior Court Judge John Kelliher Jr. made the remarks after two people filed complaints about his conduct toward their mother during a preliminary custody hearing in October 2022.
The commission investigates complaints against court judges and judges. If a judge's conduct is inappropriate, he or she can order a public reprimand or sanction.
At a hearing in October, a judge asked the mother's attorney if the mother was high after the state requested that the hearing be closed, according to court documents.
The lawyer denied the disability, and the judge allegedly continued to lecture the mother.
“Ma'am, if you're not at a high level, I need to look for another job. I don't think I need to look for another job,” he said.
Documents say he did not say why he thought the mother was under the influence of drugs.
After the hearing was held in private, court documents state, the judge told the mother that “words don't matter,” and that the mother was renting a room in the house before admitting that she was homeless. It has also been shown that he was despised.
“We don't believe you. Your words don't matter. Believe us, but check,” Kelliher reportedly told her mother.
The committee said the judge's statements to the mother were “condescending”, “irrelevant” to the request and only prolonged the hearing and caused “unnecessary distress” to the mother.
In a letter responding to the accusations, Kelliher said she spoke directly to her mother. He said he asked her if she was high because she “visibly appeared to be under the influence,” but he did not know how she appeared to be under the influence of a substance. He did not say whether he saw it.
He also denied allegations that he had been rude to her.
This is Kelliher's third disciplinary action. he was previously engaged The commission's investigation said there were “insults, humiliations and unnecessary interactions” with the boy's father, who attended juvenile proceedings.
Court documents also show the judge was disciplined after making a “mocking hand gesture” imitating a talking doll.
In all cases, the commission found the judges violated Arizona Supreme Court rules by failing to promote public confidence in the judiciary and conduct themselves in a manner that was “dignified,” according to court documents. It was recognized that it did.
According to the commission, if formal charges are initiated against a judge, he or she may be censured, suspended, or removed from office. In these cases, the Commission opted for public reprimand.
Superior court judge for a small county in Arizona are elected for four-year terms. If Kelliher seeks another term, he could face a challenge on the 2026 ballot. He will win re-election without a vote in 2022.
