The CJP is the controversial state agency responsible for investigating complaints of judicial misconduct and for disciplining judges.
From the East Bay Times Report:
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.
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 decision that First Amendment experts called, “outrageous” and a free speech violation.
Mills has an apparently unprecedented five prior misconduct actions against him, bringing his running total to seven separate offenses over 16 years. The first incident 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," according to the CJP.
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 Steve Austin and Jill Fannin. 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 state law, dismissed the complaint:
"Appellate judges Jim Humes, Anthony Kline, William McGuiness and Ignazio Ruvolo reportedly have ignored their duty as mandated reporters under state Judicial Ethics Code § 3D(1) to report Mills' serial misconduct," Carlsson said. "The code of silence is alive and well in the 1st District."
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 Steve Austin and Jill Fannin. 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 state law, dismissed the complaint:
"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 response to the complaint."The presiding judges have helped cover up Mill's outrageous conduct from the public," said whistleblower and court watchdog Ulf Carlsson. "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.
"Appellate judges Jim Humes, Anthony Kline, William McGuiness and Ignazio Ruvolo reportedly have ignored their duty as mandated reporters under state Judicial Ethics Code § 3D(1) to report Mills' serial misconduct," Carlsson said. "The code of silence is alive and well in the 1st District."
Court watchdogs also allege that embattled Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye is responsible for protecting Mills and other unfit judges, and vigorously enforcing a code of silence to keep Judicial Branch scandals from the media.
Read our Special Report: Sacramento County Family Court Operates as RICO Racketeering Enterprise, Charge Whistleblowers.
No comments:
Post a Comment