Matter of Hey

McHUGH, Chief Justice:

The West Virginia Judicial Hearing Board, after a full hearing, found that John Hey, Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, violated Canon 3A(6) of the Judicial Code of Ethics [1976] and recommended that Judge Hey be publicly censured and be required to pay the costs of the proceedings. Although the Board exceeded its authority by rendering a finding that Judge Hey’s actions occurred outside the course of his official duties, we conclude that the adoption of this finding is not necessary to determine that Judge Hey violated Canon 3A(6). After an independent evaluation…