Judge's 'disparaging' courtroom remarks publicly reproved by disciplinary commission

"The commission noted that Griego's conduct included "interrupting litigants when they attempted to answer his questions; making disparaging, gratuitous remarks, like repeatedly telling a self-represented litigant that a case that was not before him was 'worthless' ...; abruptly leaving the courtroom in the middle of proceedings; and instructing a courtroom employee to 'talk to the woman.'""

"According to coverage by the Metropolitan News-Enterprise, the commission said the jurist had committed misconduct to his administrative duties after not responding to a preliminary investigation letter sent last May."

"Griego argued that prescribed medication that he was taking contributed to his demeanor in court. In 2017, Griego, who has served on the court since 2014, received an advisory letter for independently investigating the scene of a traffic accident and failure to disclose his receipt of ex parte information and disqualify himself."

"Nine members of the commission voted for public admonishment this week."

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge received a public admonishment from the California Commission on Judicial Performance for misconduct in four 2024 court proceedings. The conduct included interrupting litigants when they tried to answer questions, making disparaging and gratuitous remarks, abruptly leaving the courtroom during proceedings, and instructing a courtroom employee to “talk to the woman.” The commission also cited misconduct related to administrative duties after the judge did not respond to a preliminary investigation letter sent the previous May. The judge argued that prescribed medication affected his demeanor in court. The judge previously received an advisory letter in 2017 for independently investigating a traffic accident scene, failing to disclose ex parte information, and not disqualifying himself.

Read at ABA Journal