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GREENSBORO - Everyone gets behind at work now and then. But this week a Guilford County Superior Court judge was reprimanded by the state's Judicial Standards Commission for being late with a written judgment. Four years late.

Judge Henry E. Frye Jr. heard the case in September 2004, but despite prodding from lawyers and court personnel, he didn't deliver a written judgment until May 26 - nearly a week after he was served with a reprimand for inaction.

The written reprimand called Frye's professionalism into question and said he had compromised the integrity of his office.

"The commission views such delays as serious misconduct because of the adverse consequences on individual litigants, who are deprived of the opportunity to have their claims decided in a timely manner, and on public confidence in the administration of justice," the commission wrote in the reprimand.

According to court documents, the case, Moldings Plus Inc. v. Alfred White and Amy M. White, was a Forsyth County bench trial that lasted six days.

Frye is known in legal circles for sometimes being long-winded and dramatic in court, but has never before been professionally reprimanded. Reached by phone Wednesday, Frye would not discuss the case or why his judgment took four years.

"The judgment wasn't finished in time and that's all I really want to say about it," Frye said. "I'd obviously like to apologize to everyone involved, to my family and my church and everyone. But the order was completed and that is really all."

According to the reprimand Frye represented himself before the commission and "acknowledged that he has no excuse for his inaction and delay."

Frye is the son of Henry E. Frye Sr., who was the first African American to be elected to the state House of Representatives, to sit on the N.C. Supreme Court and to become its chief justice. He also served in the state Senate and has won numerous professional awards and honors.

Frye Jr. is one of six North Carolina judges reprimanded by the commission in the past year for misconduct, including drunken driving and conflicts of interest.

Contact Joe Killian at 883-4422, Ext. 228, or joe.killian@news-record.com