Pierce County Superior Court Judge Beverly Grant was admonished for asking those in her courtroom to join her in a Seahawks cheer while they were waiting for a man to be sentenced for manslaughter on Feb. 3. Grant, who was appointed to the bench in 2003, filed the formal conduct complaint against herself after the cheerleading incident was widely criticized.

Grant said she had intended to defuse courtroom tension with a cheer for the football team, which was to play in the Super Bowl that week.

But, according to a decision released last week by the commission, many in the courtroom were offended by the move, including attorneys and the family and friends of Steve Keo Teang, who was convicted of killing 28-year-old Tino Patricelli in 2005.

The prosecutor was quoted in the commission's report as saying, "One family is seeing a son go off to prison and one family is here to find justice for their loved one who was murdered. It's important to them. Do you think they want to root for the Seahawks?"

Grant agreed not to repeat that behavior and to review the state's Code of Judicial Conduct.

Tacoma Municipal Court Judge David Ladenburg was also admonished for ordering a Muslim woman out of his courtroom in January after she refused to remove her head covering.

The commission found that Ladenburg, who has been on the bench since 2003, created an appearance of bias or prejudice against the woman in the January incident.

He told the commission he had banned hats and head coverings in his courtroom unless a person could show religious or medical reasons for wearing one, but he acknowledged his policy could infringe on religious rights.

Ladenburg agreed not to repeat his conduct, to study judicial-conduct rules and to complete a course on cultural competence at his own expense.

Information from The Associated Press is included in this report.

Christine Clarridge: 206-464-8983 or cclarridge@seattletimes.com

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