Press Release  District Court Judge Reprimanded by Commission on Judicial Conduct

Boston, MA — The Commission on Judicial Conduct has this day reprimanded Judge William B. McDonough, Justice of the Holyoke Division of the District Court Department,
for failing to follow complete plea colloquy procedures (as required by law for guilty pleas and admissions to sufficient facts by criminal defendants) before June 16, 2000. He is further reprimanded for signing an affidavit on June 16, 2000, which inaccurately described his plea colloquy practice as of 1994. This reprimand is issued pursuant to G.L. c.2l1C sec. 8(3), with the consent of the judge, who has waived his right to a hearing and agreed that the reprimand be made public. The Commission has taken into account the following mitigating factors: Judge McDonough has voluntarily stepped down as Presiding Justice of Holyoke District Court; he has cooperated with the Commission during all of its proceedings; he has corrected his plea colloquy practice; and he has acknowledged the seriousness of his misconduct in Complaint Number 2003-84 (a), filed by the Supreme Judicial Court, and 2003-84(b), initiated by the Commission.
 

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