NCJ Number
205168
Date Published
2004
Length
108 pages
Annotation
This 2003 Annual Report of the California Commission on Judicial Performance presents information and statistics on the Commission’s activities in 2003 related to complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity, the legal and procedural authority and decisions of the Commission during judicial investigations and disciplinary processes.
Abstract
California’s Commission on Judicial Performance is the independent State agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity and for disciplining judges. This report on the activities of the Commission in 2003 begins with an overview of the Commission’s handling and disposition of complaints involving all active California judges. The remaining sections of the report cover the legal authority and Commission procedures, 2003 statistics on received and investigated complaints and complaint dispositions, case disciplinary summaries, subordinate judicial officers, judicial disability retirement, and Commission organization, staff, and budget. Report highlights include: (1) there are 1,610 judgeships within the Commission’s jurisdiction; (2) 1,011 new complaints about active judges and former judges were considered by the Commission in 2003; (3) the commission ordered 55 staff investigations and 48 preliminary investigations; (4) 993 cases were concluded by the Commission; and (5) 2 judges were removed from office, 1 public censure was issued, 1 public admonishment, 2 private admonishments, and 16 advisory letters were issued. The constitution authorizes the Commission to continue proceedings after a judge retires or resigns, as well as the ability to impose discipline upon the former judge. In 2003, the Commission closed three matters without discipline when the judge resigned or retired with an investigation pending. All public discipline decisions issued by the Commission in 2003 are summarized in the report. Appendices 1-4 (governing provisions, selected judicial opinions, 10-year summary of Commission activity, and complaint form)