STOCKHOLM — A Stockholm town justice has resigned from the bench following a series of misconduct charges that state officials say “undermined confidence” in the court system.
His resignation took effect Feb. 20 and includes an agreement that he will never again serve as a judge.
Commission Administrator Robert Tembeckjian said the conduct outlined in the charges strikes at the core of the judicial system.
“Public confidence in a fair and impartial court is undermined when the judge decides a case after hearing one side without notice to the other,” Tembeckjian said. “Nor does it promote respect for the law when a judge endorses vigilantism.”
According to documents released by the commission, Fiske was accused of repeatedly engaging in unauthorized communications, speaking with defendants without prosecutors present.
He was also accused of dismissing or reducing charges without notice or consent from the prosecution.
“In nine cases, he engaged in unauthorized ex parte conversations with defendants and, in each instance, dismissed or reduced the charges without notice to or the consent of the prosecution,” the release says.
In one instance cited by investigators, Fiske acknowledged the potential consequences of his actions on the record, stating, “I’ll probably get in trouble for that but, I don’t care. What are they going to do to me, right?”
Fiske also faced scrutiny over posts made to his public Facebook page, where investigators said he shared content reflecting bias and views inconsistent with judicial impartiality, a release from the commission said.
Among the posts cited were statements suggesting skepticism of legal protections and rhetoric interpreted as endorsing vigilantism.
The commission also found Fiske improperly used his position to promote private business interests.
His businesses were listed on the official Stockholm Town Court website, and his role as a judge was referenced on business-related social media pages, court documents show.
Fiske waived confidentiality rules to allow the disciplinary stipulation and the commission’s order to be made public.
The agreement was executed Feb. 9 and accepted by the commission on March 12.
He had been elected to a term set to expire at the end of 2027.