As discussed in an earlier blog, here, Griffin was found to be a former felon.
These crimes are treated as “infamous” and a bar to judicial service or “any other office of trust or profit” in the state. The Court’s 4-0 decision found that “the public trust and public administration of justice would be adversely affected were (Griffin) to remain in judicial office.”
In 1984, Griffin pleaded guilty and was given a suspended prison sentence, placed on probation and ordered to pay $1,200 restitution. In 1988, she was suspended from practicing law for falsely claiming on her bar application that she had never been arrested or prosecuted for a crime.
Despite the suspension, citizens still elected her to the municipal court in 2001 and then reelected her.
For the opinion, click here