The N.C. Supreme Court has ordered a public reprimand against a District Court judge after he told parents at a child custody hearing that they were "acting like idiots."
The News & Observer of Raleigh reports James T. Hill, a Durham judge since 2002, was reprimanded for making inappropriate comments, improperly exercising his contempt powers" and "failing to maintain order and decorum" in the proceedings. The order was issued on Friday.
According to the order, the hearing lasted for several days in August 2014. Shortly before the hearing ended, Hill threatened the couple with contempt of court after becoming frustrated with their behavior.
Hill was also cited for referring to the county jail as "The Durham County Bed and Breakfast." The Judicial Standards Commission called that reference inappropriate.
