Matter of Vandelinde

MILLER, Justice.

In this disciplinary proceeding, the Judicial Hearing Board (Board) recommends dismissal of a complaint charging Dennie Vandelinde, a Lincoln County magistrate, with violations of Canons 2 and 7 of the Judicial Code of Ethics for making political contributions to a county political organization. Our prior decisions make it clear that we must make an independent, de novo review of the facts to determine whether clear and convincing evidence of improper judicial conduct has been presented, as we indicated in Syllabus Point 1 of West Virginia Judicial Inquiry Comm’n v. Dostert,…