Susan Mahoney Reprimanded

Susan Mahoney, then the presiding judge of the King County District Court in Washington, was reprimanded by the state Commission on Judicial Conduct after an investigation found she had used a racial slur during a staff meeting and made other racially insensitive remarks. The Commission found Mahoney used the N-word during a Zoom meeting with court employees, introduced a new judge to a Black staff member by saying the person "likes watermelon," and made generalizations about the driving habits of Asian and Chinese people. The Commission ordered Mahoney to complete a course on the impact of inherent bias and microaggressions, in addition to the public reprimand. Mahoney opted not to seek reelection after KNKX Public Radio first reported on the allegations.