Calif. Judge Removed Over Finding of ‘Undignified’ Conduct

A California state judge was ordered removed from the bench over a disciplinary panel finding of misconduct that included denying a defendant due process and conduct toward women that was “unwelcome, undignified, discourteous, and offensive.”

The Commission on Judicial Performance determined Judge John T. Laettner, California Superior Court for Contra Costa County, engaged in “a significant amount of misconduct,” including five acts of willful misconduct and eleven acts of prejudicial misconduct.

“Much of Judge Laettner’s misconduct reflects a pattern of engaging with attorneys appearing before him in a manner that is governed by his emotions, rather than by the California ...