LEHI — The Utah Supreme Court has reprimanded a Lehi justice court judge for jokingly pulling a gun on a bailiff in the courtroom.
The incident occurred last year when Judge Garry R. Sampson, a judge in the Lehi City Municipal Court, took his own gun from a holster and pointed it at bailiff Darci Bugden, who had playfully threatened to throw water from a water bottle onto the judge. The other people in the courtroom were a court clerk and a victim advocate. No members of the public, defendants or attorneys were present.
The Judicial Conduct Commission, which investigates claims of misconduct by Utah judges, recommended that the Utah Supreme Court reprimand Sampson for this action. The commission characterized the behavior as "prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings a judicial office into disrepute."
The high court agreed and issued a reprimand on Dec. 17, 2009.
Sampson was unavailable for comment late Wednesday.
Colin Winchester, conduct commission executive director, said Wednesday that a reprimand is the lowest level of punishment a judge can receive. It involves posting the high court's decision on the commission Web site, giving notice to the judge's boss (in this case, the Lehi mayor) and also providing notification to the person who made the complaint (in this case, the city administrator).
The group noted in the recommended reprimand that "Judge Sampson acted in a joking manner. He did not intend to threaten or cause alarm to anyone."
However, his actions did cause the bailiff and victim advocate to worry that the gun might go off accidentally.
The reprimand said Sampson has not carried or possessed a gun in the Lehi City Justice Court since March 30, 2009, and does not intend to do so in the future.
The judge, who has served since 2004, has never been disciplined before by the commission or the Utah Supreme Court, according to the reprimand.
Sampson took full responsibility for his actions and was extremely remorseful, the reprimand said, and several Lehi officials and administrators sent letters supporting Sampson staying on the bench.
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