A Butler County judge who delayed family court decisions in some cases for almost three years neglected his duties, the state Judicial Conduct Board ruled Thursday. William R. Shaffer faces discipline -- including possible removal from the bench -- over the delays in nine cases between July 2002 and March 2005. A 17-page ruling issued by the board chastises Shaffer for violating a law requiring judges to report to the state Supreme Court any cases awaiting decisions for more than 90 days. None of the four reports Shaffer filed with the high court in 2003 and 2004 noted the delays, the ruling said. "Did (Shaffer) just forget about these cases or did he deliberately set out to deceive the Supreme Court?" the ruling reads. All of the cases involved divorce proceedings. Three decisions -- two of them divorce cases and a third asking for enforcement of a divorce settlement -- languished for 34 months each. The judge admitted to the delays, but could not explain them, the ruling said. "We note that (Shaffer) has acknowledged that the delays were unreasonable and unjustified, and we take that as a straightforward acknowledgment that there is no excuse," the panel wrote. Shaffer's office referred questions to his attorney, Vince Grogan. Representatives at Grogan's office said he was out of town on business and could not be reached for comment. The Court of Judicial Discipline filed the complaint against Shaffer in May. Shaffer, who took the bench in January 2000, waived his right to a trial and signed onto a "stipulation of facts" admitting the transgressions, said Joseph Massa Jr., chief counsel for the conduct board. Butler County President Judge Thomas Doerr said Shaffer will remain on the bench while awaiting a sanctions hearing before the conduct board. The hearing has not yet been scheduled, Massa said. Sanctions against Shaffer could range from a reprimand, to a suspension with or without pay, to removal from the bench. Butler County judges worked on criminal, civil and family court cases during the period involving the cases in question, Doerr said. Shaffer now handles only criminal cases, Doerr said. Since the complaint was filed against him, Shaffer has not been late on any decision, Doerr said. The Judicial Conduct Board investigates allegations of unethical conduct by members of the judiciary and determines whether charges should be filed. There are 12 members of the board: three judges, three lawyers and six non-lawyers. The Court of Judicial Discipline is made up of four judges, two lawyers and two non-lawyers, according to the board's Web page. Half of the members are appointed by the governor and half by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

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