California judge reprimanded by state for threatening to shoot people in his courtroom

"Superior Court Judge Enrique Monguia engaged in a pattern of inappropriate comments from 2019 through 2024, the California Commission on Judicial Performance said in a 9-0 ruling last week. The commission found that Judge Monguia's remarks about shooting people, or having people shot in the courtroom, constituted an abuse of authority, fostered an atmosphere of intimidation in the courtroom, and, even if made in jest, were undignified and discourteous, the ruling states."

"On at least one occasion, the judge baselessly blamed an adjudicated victim of domestic violence. In other instances, the judge's comments had the potential to interfere with attorney-client relationships. Monguia, appointed to the bench in 2014 by Gov. Jerry Brown, also made remarks that gave the appearance of prejudgment, embroilment and bias based on gender and ethnicity, according to the commission."

"In 2022, Monguia presided over a preliminary hearing for a defendant charged with assaulting a security guard. During cross-examination, a defense attorney played a surveillance video of the encounter and later made a motion to reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor, arguing the footage supported a self-defense claim. Monguia, in announcing his ruling on the motion, expressed his opinion that the video did not show self-defense, stating, If it were me, I would have shot him (the defendant), but"

Superior Court Judge Enrique Monguia repeatedly made threats to shoot defendants, attorneys, and others or have them shot by bailiffs during court proceedings from 2019 to 2024. The California Commission on Judicial Performance issued a 9-0 public admonishment, finding the remarks constituted abuse of authority, fostered intimidation, and were undignified and discourteous even if intended as jokes. The commission noted instances of baselessly blaming an adjudicated domestic violence victim and comments that could undermine attorney-client relationships. The judge also made remarks suggesting prejudgment and bias tied to gender and ethnicity. Court leadership emphasized the need for impartiality and high conduct standards.

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