Inquiry Into the Conduct of the Honorable Stacey

OPINION

The Honorable Rex D. Stacey, Judge of District Court, challenges the recommendation of the Minnesota Board of Judicial Standards that he receive a public reprimand and be fined $3,000 for his ex parte handling of a traffic ticket belonging to the husband of an administrative clerk employed by the judicial district. We publicly reprimand Judge Stacey for his handling of the traffic ticket, but decline to impose a civil penalty.

On May 21, 2004, the husband of one of the senior clerks in the Dakota County Court Administrator’s Office received a petty misdemeanor citation for driving after…