Public Decisions Database
This database contains decisions on all public judicial disciplinary cases since the inception of the commission in 1960. Cases not involving public charges or public discipline remain confidential under the California Constitution and the commission’s rules.
Pursuant to amendments to the Constitution, which took effect in March 1995, the commission is authorized to impose all disciplinary sanctions, subject to discretionary review by the Supreme Court. Prior to that, the Supreme Court had the authority to censure or remove judges from office upon recommendation by the commission.
Case Profile
New Search| First Name | Scott |
| Last Name | Steiner |
| Title | Judge |
| Inquiry No. | |
| Court Level | Superior Court |
| County/Appellate District | Orange |
| Discipline/Determination | Censure |
| Decision By | Commission |
| Date of Decision | 09/02/2014 |
| Method of Resolution | Stipulation |
| Types of Misconduct | Disqualification/disclosure/post-disqualification conduct Misuse of court resources Off-bench abuse of office/misuse of court information On-bench abuse of authority in performance of judicial duties |
| Petition For Review | |
| Summary | Judge censured for improper conduct in engaging in sexual activity in chambers with women with whom he was engaged in personal relationships, contacting attorneys in the district attorney’s office regarding the employment application of a woman with whom he was involved in a sexual relationship, assigning cases of an attorney with whom he was engaged in a sexual relationship to other judges after disqualifying himself, and failing to disqualify himself in a case involving a longstanding and very close attorney friend. |
| Documents | [ DECISION ] |