California Judiciary's Toothless Watchdog, San Francisco Chronicle:
"The Commission on Judicial Performance is as secretive about its operations as the CIA. In response to a public records request from First Amendment Coalition, a nonprofit that has greatly improved Californians’ access to government records, the panel refused to disclose complaints or even the number of complaints filed by judge or by county.
Its practices also prevent the public from being an informed electorate, its foremost duty. California has the lowest opposition rate in the country for judicial elections, at just 8 percent. In comparison, New York’s opposition rate is over 80 percent. The commission withholds information about misconduct from voters that may impact an election. In doing so, it takes the stance that it must separate true from false and important (public disciplines) from unimportant (private disciplines) because the public cannot be trusted to make such determinations for itself."
Related links:
- Court Reform LLC: Spotlight Report.
- San Francisco Chronicle: Report Slams the Quiet Way Judges are Disciplined.
- The Davis Vanguard: New Report Alleges Commission on Judicial Performance Doesn't Measure Up.
- Daily Journal: Put a Spotlight on Judicial Discipline.
- Daily Journal: Deliberations of Judicial Watchdog Should Be Public.
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