Arizona Supreme Court censures former justice of the peace Lester Pearce for political misconduct

PHOENIX - Former justice of the peace Lester Pearce was reportedly censured by the Arizona Supreme Court Tuesday for misconduct while in office, according to the Commission on Judicial Conduct.

The commission had found that Pearce violated several rules of the Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct and "constituted conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute," a news release states.

Pearce reportedly violated rules stating that a judge cannot use his or her position as a means of advancing "personal or economic interest," cannot make speeches on behalf of political groups or campaigns and cannot endorse or oppose someone running for political office.

Judges may not take part in any part of a political campaign other than his or her own, according to the commission.

It is also reported that the appointed hearing officer and the commission "(recommend) the court approve the stipulated resolution."

Pearce served as Maricopa County's justice of the peace from 1997 to April 30, 2012.