SURPRISE, Ariz. — Turns out, acting grumpy is not just bad form. It’s against the rules.
The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct has ruled a Surprise judge committed two conduct violations when he used rude and demeaning language last fall towards several people appearing before him in court.
Surprise Justice of the Peace Donald Watts was the subject of a citizen’s complaint filed in November 2025. Watts responded by saying he was “grumpy” on one particular day, and said he had already removed himself from the bench due to a long-term illness…