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Lawyer: Judge Pilshaw eager to tell her side in ethics investigation

Sedgwick County District Judge Rebecca Pilshaw is facing a formal investigation to determine if she violated ethics rules.

The state's Commission on Judicial Qualifications has filed notice that it is seeking a hearing against the veteran Wichita judge -- just six months after the panel issued two public censures against Pilshaw.

Pilshaw has 20 days to respond to charges that she violated the judicial ethics rules by losing her temper and yelling at prospective jurors during a 2004 murder trial. The Kansas Supreme Court reviewed the case and this past April found judicial misconduct.

Steve Joseph, the judge's lawyer, said he will ask for a full public hearing.

"Judge Pilshaw looks forward to being able to explain what happened in the courtroom," Joseph said this afternoon.

Joseph said the "cold record" of the transcript doesn't tell the full story.

"Judge Pilshaw will get an opportunity to giver her side and explain what happened and why it happened," Joseph said.

In March, the commission issued two public cease-and-desist orders against Pilshaw for inappropriately meeting with a witness outside of court and following improper procedures in hearing a defendant's motion.

In 2006, there were three such public censures against judges statewide, and only two notices of formal procedures, according to the Office of Judicial Administration.

Pilshaw, who is up for re-election in 2008, has been on the bench since 1993.

For more details as the story develops, watch Kansas.com and see Tuesday's Eagle.

Ron Sylvester