California State Bar Shields Disgraced Judges

The California Commission on Judicial Performance describes its mandate thusly:
“The Commission on Judicial Performance, established in 1960, is the independent state agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and judicial incapacity and for disciplining judges, pursuant to article VI, section 18 of the California Constitution.

The Commission’s mandate is to protect the public, enforce rigorous standards of judicial conduct and maintain public confidence in the integrity and independence of the judicial system. While the majority of California’s judges are committed to maintaining the high standards expected of the judiciary, an effective method of disciplining judges who engage in misconduct is essential to the functioning of our judicial system. Commission proceedings provide a fair and appropriate mechanism to preserve the integrity of the judicial process.”

To that end, the CJP’s website lists – alphabetically – all disgraced judges admonished, censured or removed in the past 20 years.

However, the California State Bar (www.calbar.org) is blissfully unaware of that list. Even though the attorney records on its site are supposed to disclose all administrative and public actions taken against the licensees, I have cross-referenced the CJP list with the California Bar records, and – surprise! – no adverse actions are shown on any of their records. Moral lapse on the part of the ethics-enforcers?