Hutchinson ? A Reno County District Court judge has been cited by the state judicial commission for handling cases involving a woman with whom he had a personal relationship.

The Kansas Commission on Judicial Qualifications served Reno County District Judge Steve Becker with a cease and desist order after an investigation showed Becker presided over cases in 2002 and in 2004 for an unidentified woman he knew.

The order, which was filed Oct. 27 and became public Monday, accused Becker of violating portions of the Code of Judicial Conduct. According to the code, the judge should have disqualified himself if his impartiality could “reasonably” be questioned.

Becker became acquainted with the 28-year-old woman in 2004 through a Hutchinson self-help group. According to the commission’s report, the case in 2002 involved two drug-related offenses and the one in 2004 involved theft and criminal financial card charges. He finally recused himself from her legal proceedings in April.

The woman pleaded guilty to the charges in both cases and was given suspended sentences, on condition she pay court costs and restitution.

Becker waived the woman’s costs in her criminal cases in February 2005, because she could not afford them. The cease and desist order notes he had done the same thing for other defendants he did not know.

Becker agreed with the cease and desist order, which prevented a public hearing, and had no comment on the case.