NCJ Number
136604
Date Published
1991
Length
64 pages
Annotation
Founded in 1960, the California Commission on Judicial Performance is an independent State agency that handles complaints involving willful misconduct in office, persistent failure or inability to perform the duties of a judge, habitual use of alcohol or drugs, conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice, and other improper actions or derelictions of duty. In 1991, the Commission received 774 complaints, ordered 109 staff inquiries and 33 preliminary investigations, and instituted formal proceedings in 6 cases.
Abstract
This report provides a summary of Commission disciplinary activity in 1991. Of the 712 cases completed in 1991, 669 were closed without action, 38 were closed with discipline or action of some sort, and 5 were closed when judges left the bench with charges pending. Discipline may be imposed by the Commission only after an official investigation is conducted and after the judge involved is allowed to comment. In 1991, the Commission issued 9 private admonishments and 29 advisory letters, which are briefly described in this report. In addition, the Commission reviewed five applications for disability retirement by judges, approving four and rejecting one. The Commission's decisionmaking procedures are outlined in the report. 4 appendixes