The Commission on Judicial Performance has recommended to the state Supreme Court that a former Columbus municipal judge be publicly reprimanded for committing multiple acts of judicial misconduct.
The judicial watchdog agency says Nicole Clinkscales, who served as a municipal judge from 2010 until resigning June 23, committed the misconduct by making statements on social media that were racially biased and prejudiced; by endorsing a political candidate on Facebook; and by presiding over a drug case involving her nephew.
In the 8-page recommendation and “findings of fact” it filed with state’s high court, the agency also lists several other examples of judicial misconduct Clinkscales engaged in.
Clinkscales agreed and admitted to the Commission’s findings, according to the Commission.
“I really don’t have anything to add,” Clinkscales said when contacted by The Dispatch this morning. “It was a mutual agreement between the commission and myself.”
She declined to comment further.
The state Supreme Court typically takes eight to 10 months to order a reprimand, according to Darlene Ballard, executive director of the state Commission on Judicial Performance. Once the court rules, there will be a two-week period for Clinkscales to file a motion against the charges. If the court agrees with the Commission’s recommendation, a mandate will be issued and a circuit court judge will reprimand Clinkscales in public in Lowndes County.
The state Supreme Court has the ability to add to, decrease or throw out the Commission’s recommendation. Ballard, though, said reductions are rare.
The Commission is also asking the state Supreme Court to order Clinkscales to pay $563 to cover the cost of proceedings.
A local attorney, Clinkscales was appointed to the city bench in 2010 by the city council. She also served as a drug court judge, a position she resigned from on Feb. 6, 2014. She stepped down from the municipal bench on June 23 after launching a campaign for the House of Representatives District 41 seat. She ultimately lost that race.
The city of Columbus is currently advertising for applicants to fill the seat Clinkscales vacated. Ballard told The Dispatch this morning the Commission wanted to push through their complaint regarding Clinkscales before she could possibly be reappointed as a municipal judge.
“If you have a judge who is no longer on the bench, sometimes we take into consideration — will they be back on the bench at somepoint?” Ballard said. “Which is really why we wanted to go forward on this one, because there is that possibility.”
The Commission’s investigation began in Nov. 2013, after it received two complaints regarding Clinkscales, according to Ballard.
The instances of judicial misconduct the Commission noted in its findings are:
■ Made numerous statements on Facebook and Twitter “which could be reasonably construed to show racial bias and prejudice.”
■ Endorsed a political candidate on Facebook.
■ Ordered some participants into drug court, which is a volunteer program.
■ Ordered her nephew into drug court.
■ Gave “misleading and deceptive responses” to questions from a Dispatch reporter in 2011, regarding a 2009 arrest for failure to obey police officer.
■ Routinely started court late and displayed poor courtroom demeanor.
The Commission, in its findings, noted that Clinkscales cooperated fully with its investigation.
Dispatch reporter Alex Holloway contributed to this report.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.