The Colorado Supreme Court censured former Arapahoe County District Court Judge John E. Scipione on Monday for his misconduct, which resulted in a pair of sexual harassment settlements totaling $130,000.

In a document originally filed with the court in January 2023, Scipione agreed he failed to disclose an intimate relationship with a staff member, inappropriately discussed his “sexual preferences and habits,” and attempted to influence a court case in another jurisdiction.

“Scipione’s transgressions represented a pattern of misconduct reflecting that Scipione repeatedly abused his power for self-gain,” wrote the court in an unsigned May 6 decision.

Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright and Justice Carlos A. Samour Jr. did not participate in the case. They did not provide a reason for their recusal.

The censure also disclosed the Judicial Department settled two sexual harassment claims stemming from Scipione’s conduct for a total of $130,000. Colorado Politics requested details about the settlements, but spokespeople for the department did not immediately respond.

The Colorado Commission on Judicial Discipline recommended the Supreme Court further order Scipione to pay $51,189 in attorney fees to cover the previous disciplinary proceedings. The Supreme Court agreed that the seriousness and pattern of misconduct, combined with the negative effects on the Judicial Department, justified Scipione’s payment of the fees.

Although the commission originally wanted Scipione to return the salary and benefits he received while he was suspended as a judge, the Supreme Court agreed the rules of judicial discipline and the state constitution do not authorize such a punishment.

Scipione was first hired as a magistrate in the 18th Judicial District in 2012. In 2017, then-Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed him to be an Arapahoe County Court judge. He received an appointment to the district court bench the following year.

From his time as a magistrate, Scipione had an extramarital relationship with an employee, but did not report it to the department as required. He also did not disclose the relationship on the judicial application form, which asked whether there was “any circumstance” in a candidate’s personal or professional life that would adversely affect their qualifications. The Supreme Court has since removed that question, but Justice Melissa Hart previously told Colorado Politics the change had no connection to Scipione.

Scipione also discussed his lifestyle of “consensual non-monogamy” with other employees, made inappropriate comments about their appearance and asked for help using the dating app Tinder. He pursued another relationship with a second employee, neither of which he disclosed during the disciplinary proceedings.

Finally, Scipione contacted a judge and their clerk in a different jurisdiction to “seek favorable treatment” in a case involving his father’s estate, according to the stipulation Scipione signed.

Initially, the Supreme Court suspended Scipione in August 2022 with pay in response to the disciplinary proceedings. Scipione quickly claimed he was unable to defend himself due to a disability. As a result, the disciplinary proceedings were paused for four months.

“Ultimately, following three independent medical evaluations, Scipione acknowledged that he could not meet his burden to prove by clear and convincing evidence that he had a disability that prevented him from assisting with his defense,” the Supreme Court wrote in its censure decision. Scipione resigned shortly afterward.

The judicial discipline commission initially sought $120,719 from Scipione, covering his compensation as a judge and the costs of the disciplinary and disability proceedings. A panel of unidentified judges, acting as special masters, agreed Scipione should only be responsible for paying $51,189.

“Scipione’s misconduct negatively affected public confidence in the judiciary, as well as the well-being of all court personnel affected by his actions,” the Supreme Court wrote. “This abuse of the power dynamic between judicial officers and subordinate court personnel presented a grave risk of damaging the public’s (and the employees’) perception of the judiciary and the judicial process.”

The court censured Scipione, who now operates his own mediation and arbitration company based in Lone Tree. The firm’s website mentions Scipione “is committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and fairness.”