PRESCOTT, Ariz. -- The judicial system relies on people being truthful, but a CBS 5 News investigation is following a judge accused of lying.

Arizona superior court judges are required by law to rule on specific matters within 60 days. Yavapai County quarterly reports between 2006 and 2008 reveal one judge was cited again and again for breaking this rule: Judge Howard Hinson.

CBS 5 News also discovered that at least 12 times, Hinson signed payment certificates claiming to follow the 60-day rule, when court documents indicated otherwise; thus, not only was Hinson allegedly breaking the law, he was still getting paid.

On a cold, snowy day in Prescott earlier this month, when asked about the allegations, Hinson said, "I'm going to ask you nicely to leave me alone."

Paul Bender, a Harvard-educated former dean of the Sandra Day O'Connor law school at Arizona State University, said the 60-day rule goes to the heart of one of the basic tenets of the legal system.

"Relatively prompt justice is something that people want and I think it's something that they're entitled to have so they don't have to sit around waiting," said Bender.

Bender added that outside of rare occasions, he thinks any superior court judge should be able to comply with the rule.

The Arizona Commission on Judicial Conduct is now investigating Hinson for alleged violations of the 60-day rule. The commission did not have a timetable for how long its investigation would take. Hinson said he would not comment on the investigation until it is complete.