Whether violations of the Due Process Clause occur when a state judicial policy allows exceptions to ex parte communication restrictions without procedural safeguards and whether reporting such communications constitutes a due process violation

QUESTIONS PRESENTED This case presents the following questions: 1. Whether violations of the Due Process Clause occur when a state judicial policy authorizes exceptions to the proscription against ex parte communications but does not apply the state’s own required procedural safeguards for the party excluded from them and where deprivations of protected interests follow. , 2. Whether the reporting of ex parte communications to a successor court resulting in an admonishment to the reporting party where a state judicial policy requires a judge to take appropriate action when receiving information a substantial likelihood exists another. judge violated that policy constitutes a violation of the Due Process Clause.