NCJ Number
223708
Date Published
2008
Length
128 pages
Annotation
This report of the State California Commission on Judicial Performance provides comprehensive information on the Commission’s activities for 2007 in relation to judicial performance and misconduct and summarizes the cases presented to the Commission.
Abstract
Established by a legislative constitutional amendment in 1960, the Commission on Judicial Performance is the independent State agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial incapacity and for disciplining incapacity and for disciplining judges. The Commission’s authority is limited to investigating alleged judicial misconduct and, if warranted, imposing discipline. In 2007, there were 1,660 judgeships within the Commission’s jurisdiction. In 2007, 1,077 new complaints (naming a total of 1,328 judges) about active and former California’s judges were considered by the Commission. A total of 1,058 cases were concluded by the Commission in 2007 with the average time period from the filing of a complaint to the disposition being 2.8 months. After obtaining the information necessary to evaluate the complaints, insufficient evidence for misconduct was found in 975 of the complaints. In addition, another 45 were closed without discipline. In 2007, the Commission removed 2 judges from office, publicly censured 1 judge and imposed 5 public admonishments, as well as 9 private admonishments and 20 advisory letters. Public discipline decisions issued by the Commission in 2007 are summarized case-by-case. Statistical information is also provided on complaints and disciplinary results for subordinated judges for 2007, as well voluntary and involuntary disability retirement, and an overview of the Commission’s organization, staff and 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 budgets. Appendixes 1-5