Commission On Judicial Performance

One of the most experienced attorneys at the state's beleaguered Commission on Judicial Performance has been placed on administrative leave a week after he sent a letter to state legislators describing disciplinary proceedings against him, The Times has learned. John Plotz, the suspended attorney, said commission director Victoria B.

There is no shortage of information about candidates for Congress, district attorney, the Legislature or any of the other contests on the June 5 ballot -- except, for course, in the races for Los Angeles Superior Court judge. Who are those 16 people vying for six judicial seats? How do they differ? In making endorsements, The Times' editorial board examines the candidates carefully, and we do our best to give voters not just recommendations but the reasons for our choices. Other news organizations and interest groups endorse as well.

The Feb. 22 article "Judge Rebuked for Doing Business From the Bench" shows how low the standards are for judges in California. The state Commission on Judicial Performance gave him a "mild rebuke" for using government resources and his position as a judge to manage his personal rental business of condominiums. It is highly likely that any other profession or company would fire anyone who did this. He certainly does not deserve the title "your honor" because his actions do not reflect honor or integrity.

A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge who made an "offensive and inappropriate" reference to the Ku Klux Klan while presiding over a robbery trial involving two African American defendants was publicly admonished Wednesday by a state agency overseeing judges' discipline. Judge Harvey Giss of the San Fernando Courthouse made the comments in July during an off-the-record discussion with attorneys about a possible plea agreement in the case, according to the state Commission on Judicial Performance.

The state Commission on Judicial Performance said it has filed misconduct charges against Orange County Municipal Judge Calvin P. Schmidt, but did not disclose what the charges involve. Thomas Malcolm, attorney for Schmidt, said they do not include a publicized allegation that Schmidt gave favorable treatment to a prostitute in exchange for sex. The commission wants to hold a public hearing, but Malcolm said, "Why should he have to go through the circus of a hearing open to the public?

The proponents of Proposition 92 do not go far enough in their proposal in changing the Commission on Judicial Performance. If you're going to amend the Constitution then do it right the first time. Too many ignorant and incompetent lawyers are appointed as judges, who too often become arrogant in their security of immunity. The record of the Commission on Judicial Performance given by the proponents, i.e., only 25 out of 7,185 complaints resulted in public punishment in 27 years, speaks for itself--wimpy--merely a wrist-slapping public entity that is neither useful nor cost effective in its present state.

A state agency recommended Monday that an Orange County judge receive a public admonishment for making inappropriate comments to parties involved in three criminal cases between 1993 and 1997. The Commission on Judicial Performance criticized Judge Susanne Shaw for comments she made to prosecutors about two criminal cases (in one instance she suggested that some Orange County prosecutors had drinking problems) and to a criminal defendant in a third case.

Feminist attorney Gloria Allred filed a complaint Monday with the state Commission on Judicial Performance against Pasadena Superior Court Judge Gilbert Alston, because he dismissed a rape case in which the victim was a prostitute, then commented, "A whore is a whore is a whore." Allred also asked Los Angeles County prosecutors to boycott Alston when victims are female.

The editorial "Overprotected Judiciary" (Dec. 29) demands a response. It reflects a disturbing lack of perspective on the reality of complaints about the judiciary. Your readers would never guess from your editorial that The Times endorsed Proposition 92 and mentioned the California Judges Assn.'s backing as one reason for that endorsement; they would not guess that Proposition 92 passed overwhelmingly, with 74% of the vote, and that CJA did not oppose it. State Sen. Ed Davis (R-Valencia)

Municipal Judge Susanne Shaw was cleared of any wrongdoing or misconduct Thursday by the California Commission on Judicial Performance, which has been investigating several judges in Harbor Municipal Court. In a two paragraph statement, the San Francisco-based commission, which investigates allegations of misconduct against state judges, said its investigation of allegations leveled against Shaw is over and there is no need for further action. "Recent publicity concerning the Harbor Judicial District of the Orange County Municipal Court contained allegations about Judge Susanne Shaw and listed her among the judges under investigation by the Commission on Judicial Performance.

A San Bernardino County judge who was disciplined a decade ago for making sexually suggestive comments and for other inappropriate conduct toward women was publicly admonished Tuesday for making crude gestures and improper remarks. Among the incidents that led to his latest discipline, Superior Court Judge John B. Gibson displayed sarcasm and annoyance toward a female defense attorney during a hearing in May, according to the state's Commission on Judicial Performance. Gibson later spoke to the attorney in his chambers, showing irritation with her as he criticized a male lawyer who had appeared on her behalf at a hearing earlier in the day, the commission said.

A San Diego County Superior Court judge has agreed to resign after being censured by the Commission on Judicial Performance for a pattern of intemperate behavior toward lawyers and defendants. Judge DeAnn M. Salcido agreed to resign immediately to avoid formal proceedings against her that could have led to her ouster. The resignation becomes effective within five days, according to an agreement signed by the judge and lawyers for the commission. Salcido was appointed to the bench in 2002 by then-Gov.

A former Los Angeles County Superior Court family law commissioner was publicly censured Wednesday and barred from taking on future judicial assignments for failing to decide a number of cases within the time required by law. According to the state Commission on Judicial Performance, which investigates misconduct by judges, one litigant complained to court officials that commissioner Ann Dobbs delayed ruling on a case for nearly five years.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge whose competency was questioned by a state commission because he allegedly suffered from a degenerative brain disease has retired, officials said Friday. A hearing on Judge Rodney E. Nelson's competence was scheduled for Monday by the Commission on Judicial Performance, an independent state agency charged with investigating complaints of judicial incapacity and misconduct.

The Feb. 22 article "Judge Rebuked for Doing Business From the Bench" shows how low the standards are for judges in California. The state Commission on Judicial Performance gave him a "mild rebuke" for using government resources and his position as a judge to manage his personal rental business of condominiums. It is highly likely that any other profession or company would fire anyone who did this. He certainly does not deserve the title "your honor" because his actions do not reflect honor or integrity.

With its longtime top lawyer under fire for an alleged breach of ethics, the integrity of California's judicial watchdog agency could be tarnished if the group's handling of the controversy is not beyond reproach, legal experts said. The 11-member Commission on Judicial Performance, which disciplines unethical judges, said last week that it plans to seek an independent examiner to investigate the charges against Victoria Henley, the commission's chief counsel and top administrator.

The actions of Judge Boags in completely wiping out any fines on his son's 72 parking tickets is the most obvious case of "obstruction of justice" that I have heard of from a local judge in years. His excuses are so flimsy, I doubt if a third grader would believe them. What Boags is saying is that, if your father is a judge and you get a ticket, it's OK to bypass normal channels. Simply give the tickets to your dad to dispose of! The judge "believed that his son was parking legally."

Re "State Judicial Panel Lifts Curtain on Court Feuds," July 8: The story concerning Judge Nancy Brown is disturbing, although not because of the manner in which it portrays her or her colleagues on the bench. I do not know Judge Brown. Nevertheless, the article discloses a little-known fact with which we attorneys who regularly appear before elected and appointed judges are all too familiar. Typically, you do not become a judge because you have the best legal mind or judicial temperament.

A former Orange County judge accused of releasing suspects at the request of a longtime friend was publicly admonished Tuesday by a state agency for violating ethics codes in several cases near the end of his 20-year term. The state Commission on Judicial Performance concluded that former West Justice Center jurist Luis A. Cardenas acted improperly by releasing or reducing the bail of six people who were clients of attorney Leonard Basinger or his daughter, Ginger Larson Kelley.

A state agency recommended Monday that an Orange County judge receive a public admonishment for making inappropriate comments to parties involved in three criminal cases between 1993 and 1997. The Commission on Judicial Performance criticized Judge Susanne Shaw for comments she made to prosecutors about two criminal cases (in one instance she suggested that some Orange County prosecutors had drinking problems) and to a criminal defendant in a third case.