State Board Reprimands Wabasha Co. Judge Walters

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Board on Judicial Standards has publicly reprimanded Wabasha County Judge Terrence M. Walters for rules violations.

The board says in one case, Walters was discourteous to a deaf psychologist who was being retained to see if a deaf defendant was competent. The psychologist withdrew.

In another case, Walters tried a defendant who was not in court. The board says the judge also refused to allow a public defender to ask if a defendant wanted to withdraw a guilty plea. And Walters failed to supervise his law clerk and approved the clerk's inaccurate timesheets.

The board ordered Walters to undergo anger management and find a mentor. He also has to write a letter of apology to the psychologist.

A phone message left for Walters was not immediately returned Tuesday.

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