tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31713912576962190542024-03-19T05:53:48.237-07:00California Courts of Appeal Report<center>Investigative reporting, analysis, and opinion about California appellate courts.</center>
PR Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732442182428611761noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171391257696219054.post-68256757823816034632017-10-19T12:27:00.000-07:002017-11-14T10:17:54.092-08:001st District Court of Appeal Judges Implicated in Cover Up of Serial Misconduct by Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Bruce Mills<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD0Qv7a1zkcvE0ni2_ccWCr4feDdHJfF2-x2WNrutFxt7SQG1BERjhsq8ctNO74ueyyL7mEtIBvhZDXh4ldAtP0okipj6ph6z6RlvVAYz8v4qBnAWvPh5icFbJCNYUBWGNjW2WNDgA0n5/s1600/Contra+Costa+County+Judge+Bruce+Mills%252C+Judge+Jill+Fannin%252C+Judge+Steve+Austin%252C+Justice+James+Richman%252C+Justice+Anthony+Kline%252C+Justice+William+McGuiness%252C+Justice+Ignazio+Ruvolo%252C+Justice+Barbara+Jones%252C+1st+District+Court.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Justice Kathryn Werdegar, Justice Vance Raye 3rd District - California 1st District Court of Appeal Justice J. Anthony Kline, Justice James A. Richman, Justice Therese M. Stewart, Justice Marla J. Miller First District Court of Appeal California Justice Miguel M. Marquez -Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Jill Fannin, Judge Steve Austin, Judge Bruce Mills, Judge Edward Weil, Superior Court of California County of Contra Costa - Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye " border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="698" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAD0Qv7a1zkcvE0ni2_ccWCr4feDdHJfF2-x2WNrutFxt7SQG1BERjhsq8ctNO74ueyyL7mEtIBvhZDXh4ldAtP0okipj6ph6z6RlvVAYz8v4qBnAWvPh5icFbJCNYUBWGNjW2WNDgA0n5/s400/Contra+Costa+County+Judge+Bruce+Mills%252C+Judge+Jill+Fannin%252C+Judge+Steve+Austin%252C+Justice+James+Richman%252C+Justice+Anthony+Kline%252C+Justice+William+McGuiness%252C+Justice+Ignazio+Ruvolo%252C+Justice+Barbara+Jones%252C+1st+District+Court.jpg" title="Justice Leondra Kruger, Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye - Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Jill Fannin, Judge Steve Austin, Judge Bruce Mills, Judge Edward Weil, Superior Court of California County of Contra Costa - California 1st District Court of Appeal Justice J. Anthony Kline, Justice James A. Richman, Justice Therese M. Stewart, Justice Marla J. Miller First District Court of Appeal California Justice Miguel M. Marquez" width="360" /></a></div>
Contra Costa County Superior Court <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22judge+bruce+mills%22+misconduct+cjp&oq=%22judge+bruce+mills%22+misconduct+cjp&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i160k1.59516.70345.0.70875.40.38.2.0.0.0.95.2695.36.37.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..1.37.2652.6..0j46j35i39k1j0i67k1j0i131k1j0i20i264k1j0i20i263i264k1j0i46k1j0i20i263k1j0i22i30k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i21k1.95.AyCov9Fca2A" target="_blank">Judge Bruce Mills</a> is facing two new <a href="https://cjp.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/08/Mills_NFP_10-13-17.pdf" target="_blank">charges of misconduct</a> by the Commission on Judicial Performance.
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The CJP is the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22commission+on+judicial+performance%22+cjp+misconduct+controversy&oq=%22commission+on+judicial+performance%22+cjp+misconduct+controversy&gs_l=psy-ab.3...12827.14792.0.15129.12.12.0.0.0.0.96.987.12.12.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.8.657...33i160k1j33i21k1.0.iFcpPkb5m5k" target="_blank">controversial state agency</a> responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and for disciplining judges.</div>
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From the <a href="http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/10/17/controversial-contra-costa-judge-charged-with-willful-misconduct-could-face-removal/" target="_blank">East Bay Times report</a>:
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MARTINEZ — A Contra Costa judge with a history of ethics violations was charged with judicial misconduct that could warrant his removal from the bench, records obtained Tuesday show.</blockquote>
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The two counts of misconduct include allegations that Judge Bruce C. Mills illegally doubled the sentence of a judicial rights advocate who Mills had found to be in contempt of court. Mills jailed the man for discussing his divorce online, <a href="http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/10/16/contra-costa-judge-jails-judicial-reform-advocate-who-discussed-divorce-online/">a decision that First Amendment experts called</a>, “outrageous” and a free speech violation.</blockquote>
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Mills has an <a href="https://cjp.ca.gov/decisions_by_judges/" target="_blank">apparently unprecedented</a> five prior <a href="http://cjpnews.blogspot.com/2016/07/judge-bruce-mills-misconduct-contra-costa-county.html" target="_blank">misconduct actions</a> against him, bringing his running total to seven separate offenses over 16 years. The <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/322423365/Judge-Bruce-C-Mills-Serial-Misconduct-Catalog-Prosecutions-by-California-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance-Hon-Bruce-Clayton-Mills-Contra-Costa" target="_blank">first incident</a> occurred in 2001 when Mills refused to appoint an attorney for a criminal defendant, and "made comments that disparaged the defendant's version of the case and fostered the appearance that the judge was attempting to pressure the defendant into pleading guilty," <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/321164035/Judge-Bruce-Mills-Misconduct-2001-Private-Admonishment-by-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance-for-Ignoring-Defendant-s-Request-for-Counsel-and-Attempt" target="_blank">according to the CJP</a>.<br />
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Court reform advocates attribute Mills' ability to remain on the bench - despite the five, and now seven strikes against him - to help from current and past Contra Costa County presiding judges, including <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22judge+steve+austin%22+%22contra+costa%22+misconduct&oq=%22judge+steve+austin%22+%22contra+costa%22+misconduct&gs_l=psy-ab.3...17713.21437.0.21839.21.18.0.0.0.0.109.1422.17j1.18.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..5.15.1185...33i21k1j0i13i30k1j35i39k1j0i22i30k1j33i160k1.0.wt3tmfyB7pc" target="_blank">Steve Austin</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22judge+jill+fannin%22+%22contra+costa%22+misconduct&oq=%22judge+jill+fannin%22+%22contra+costa%22+misconduct&gs_l=psy-ab.3...49148.53235.0.56586.23.19.0.0.0.0.129.1423.18j1.19.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..7.0.0....0.56GDB9G0jiA" target="_blank">Jill Fannin</a>. In fact, more than a year ago, Austin received a complaint against Mills for the misconduct he is now formally charged with.
At that time, Austin defended Mills and, in violation of <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/286996012/2015-Judge-Misconduct-Reporting-Canon-3D-1-California-Code-of-Judicial-Ethics-California-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance-Director-Victoria-B-He" target="_blank">state law</a>, dismissed the complaint:
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"In reviewing the transcript [of the court hearing at issue] I saw nothing to indicate that Judge Mills was biased or prejudiced against Mr. Sweeney or that he committed any ethical transgressions," Austin wrote in his <a href="http://freepdfhosting.com/7a3881187b.pdf" target="_blank">response to the complaint</a>. </blockquote>
"The presiding judges have helped cover up Mill's outrageous conduct from the public," said whistleblower and court watchdog <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22ulf+carlsson%22+sacramento+judge&oq=%22ulf+carlsson%22+sacramento+judge&gs_l=psy-ab.3..33i21k1.4371.9512.0.10037.17.17.0.0.0.0.96.1221.17.17.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.17.1218...0j0i22i30k1j0i22i10i30k1j33i22i29i30k1.0.kcOCbpUnzaI" target="_blank">Ulf Carlsson</a>. "In addition, Mills has connections at the First District Court of Appeal who have helped hide the judge's incompetence and rogue disregard of the law when his cases inevitably end up on appeal. All the checks and balances that ostensibly ensure accountability have failed," Carlsson added.<br />
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"Appellate judges Jim Humes, Anthony Kline, William McGuiness and Ignazio Ruvolo reportedly have ignored their duty as mandated reporters under state <a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/286996012/2015-Judge-Misconduct-Reporting-Canon-3D-1-California-Code-of-Judicial-Ethics-California-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance-Director-Victoria-B-He" target="_blank">Judicial Ethics Code § 3D(1)</a> to report Mills' serial misconduct," Carlsson said. "The code of silence is alive and well in the 1st District."</div>
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Court watchdogs also allege that <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22tani+cantil-sakauye%22+misconduct&oq=%22tani+cantil-sakauye%22+misconduct&gs_l=psy-ab.3...984556.991146.0.991396.32.32.0.0.0.0.124.2264.30j1.31.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..1.27.1952...0j35i39k1j0i131k1j0i67k1j0i20i264k1j0i10k1j0i22i30k1j33i160k1j33i21k1.0.qHsudZp5drg" target="_blank">embattled</a> Supreme Court Chief Justice <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=%22cantil-sakauye%22+misconduct&oq=%22cantil-sakauye%22+misconduct&aqs=chrome..69i57.5791j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">Tani Cantil-Sakauye</a> is responsible for protecting Mills and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommissionOnJudicialPerformance/" target="_blank">other unfit judges</a>, and vigorously enforcing a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_silence" target="_blank">code of silence</a> to keep Judicial Branch scandals from the media.
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PR Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732442182428611761noreply@blogger.com11st District Court of Appeal - Earl Warren Building, 350 McAllister St, San Francisco, CA 94102, USA37.7806499 -122.4179462000000237.7798654 -122.41920670000002 37.7814344 -122.41668570000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3171391257696219054.post-68289521233859074912016-04-06T15:46:00.000-07:002017-11-14T10:16:46.773-08:00Court of Appeal Judges Immunity from Commission on Judicial Performance Accountability Revealed at California Assembly Budget Committee Hearing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In this video clip, <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=victoria+henley+%22commission+on+judicial+performance%22+controversy+cjp" target="_blank">Commission on Judicial Performance</a> whistleblower and court reform advocate <a href="http://www.courtreformllc.com/about" target="_blank">Joe Sweeney</a> testifies at a California Assembly Budget Committee hearing on March 28, 2016. The commission is solely responsible for oversight and accountability of judges in the state. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Several days before the hearing, Sweeney's court modernization and reform organization, <a href="http://www.courtreformllc.com/" target="_blank">Court Reform LLC</a>, released a <a href="http://www.courtreformllc.com/commission-on-judicial-performance-spotlight" target="_blank">78-page report</a> which raised questions about CJP judicial misconduct statistical data and how the agency spends taxpayer funds. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The report, <i>Why a Spotlight must be put on the Commission on Judicial Performance</i>, also charged that CJP operations are shielded by an excessive and unprecedented level of secrecy for a government agency. In this four minute video, Sweeney explains to the committee the methodology and results of Court Reform LLC's six month investigation into the policies and practices of the CJP.</span></span><br />
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<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Sweeney also requested that the Legislature order an audit of the commission, and withhold additional funding for the agency until it could prove that taxpayer funds were being used efficiently. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22victoria+henley%22+%22commission+on+judicial+performance%22+controversy+cjp" target="_blank">Controversial</a> CJP Director Victoria Henley offered a rebuttal, contesting the accuracy of the Court Reform LLC Spotlight Report. <a href="https://www.scribd.com/doc/307256515/Joe-Sweeney-Court-Reform-LLC-Daily-Journal-Op-Ed-Put-a-Spotlight-on-Judicial-Discipline-California-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance-Victoria-B" target="_blank">In an op-ed</a> published several days later by the San Francisco and Los Angeles Daily Journal newspapers, Sweeney, in turn, dissected and refuted Henley's rebuttal point-by-point. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Underground Regulations and Stand-Down Orders</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">California court reform advocates also allege that CJP judicial discipline data indicate that Henley has issued a staff directive prohibiting investigation and discipline of court of appeal and Supreme Court judges. According to a former CJP employee, the policy was implemented to prevent further embarrassment to the Judicial Branch, which has been engulfed in a <a href="http://sacramentocountyfamilycourtnews.blogspot.com/p/court-watchdogs-charge-federal.html" target="_blank">series of scandals</a> spanning several years. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Government whistleblowers assert that the policy is, or is analogous to an "<a href="http://www.oal.ca.gov/Underground_Regs.htm" target="_blank">underground regulation</a>." Underground rules or policies are prohibited by the <a href="http://www.oal.ca.gov/res/docs/pdf/CTU-Section250etseqJuly9effective.pdf" target="_blank">California Code of Regulations [pdf]</a>, and are subject to review by the state <a href="http://www.oal.ca.gov/Default.htm" target="_blank">Office of Administrative Law.</a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In addition, Supreme Court Chief Justice <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=tani%20cantil-sakauye%20corruption" target="_blank">Tani Cantil-Sakauye</a> reportedly has issued what amounts to an underground "stand-down" order blocking CJP scrutiny of judges at the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Sacramento. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">"The legal community acknowledges that the third district is the most controversial court in the state," said former state employee and court watchdog Ulf Carlsson. "They are notoriously hostile to whistleblower cases and whistleblower rights, and any case with a pro per party. <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=tani+cantil-sakauye+%22federalist+society%22" target="_blank">Tani Cantil-Sakauye</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22federalist+society%22+%223rd+district+court%22+sacramento+raye" target="_blank">several justices</a> there are affiliated with the ultra-right-wing <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22federalist+society%22+radical" target="_blank">Federalist Society</a>, and most are former prosecutors. Time has shown that prosecutors make terrible judges," Carlsson explained. </span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Prior to her elevation to the high court, Cantil-Sakauye spent six years as an <a href="http://www.courts.ca.gov/13338.htm" target="_blank">associate justice</a> at the Third District, and still resides in Sacramento, where she was born and raised. Although whistleblowers have documented <a href="http://sacramentocountyfamilycourtnews.blogspot.com/p/3rd-district-court-casino.html" target="_blank">systemic misconduct</a> at the appellate court, no justice has yet been held accountable by the CJP. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">California Courts of Appeal Report will publish additional video - including Henley's rebuttal - and news reports on the landmark hearing, and on the still-unfolding drama. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Related: </span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5633b19ae4b04e9edc2f2c80/t/56f4d35904426238d33e8bd1/1458885479547/Spotlight-on-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance.pdf" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank">Why a Spotlight must be put on the Commission on Judicial Performance (Full Report)[pdf].</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5633b19ae4b04e9edc2f2c80/t/56f4d3c89f72666afb4959cd/1458885577424/Spotlight-on-Commission-on-Judicial-Performance-Executive-Summary.pdf" style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;" target="_blank">Court Reform LLC CJP Spotlight Report, Executive Summary [pdf].</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">San Francisco Chronicle, </span><i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Report-slams-the-quiet-way-California-judges-are-7213677.php" target="_blank">Report slams the quiet way judges are disciplined</a></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Davis Vanguard, </span><i style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.davisvanguard.org/2016/03/new-report-alleges-commission-judicial-performance-doesnt-measure/" target="_blank">New Report Alleges Commission on Judicial Performance Doesn't Measure Up</a></i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/CommissionOnJudicialPerformance/" target="_blank">Commission on Judicial Performance Reform Project</a> on Facebook. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://sacramentocountyfamilycourtnews.blogspot.com/p/3rd-district-court-casino.html" target="_blank">Third District Court of Appeal Controversy.</a> </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=tani%20cantil-sakauye%20corruption" target="_blank">Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye Controversy,</a> and <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=tani+cantil-sakauye+corruption&tbm=vid" target="_blank">Video</a>. </span></span></li>
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PR Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03732442182428611761noreply@blogger.com0California State Assembly 1315 10th St, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA38.5765874 -121.4932453000000138.5750359 -121.49576680000001 38.5781389 -121.49072380000001