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 | Howard H. |
| Last Name | Shore |
| Title | Judge |
| Inquiry No. | |
| Court Level | Superior Court |
| County/Appellate District | San Diego |
| Discipline/Determination | Public admonishment |
| Decision By | Commission |
| Date of Decision | 04/03/2025 |
| Method of Resolution | Decision |
| Types of Misconduct | Bias/appearance of bias toward a particular class Demeanor/decorum Miscellaneous off-bench conduct |
| Petition For Review | |
| Summary | In 2023, the commission issued a severe public censure to former Judge Shore for improper absences. Before and after the commission issued the severe public censure, former Judge Shore made misstatements that misrepresented, omitted, and minimized the facts underlying the severe public censure. These misstatements constituted a lack of candor. In addition, while presiding over pre-trial criminal hearings, former Judge Shore made undignified, discourteous, and offensive comments that reflected bias, prejudice, or harassment, based on race. Former Judge Shore’s comments were largely irrelevant to any of the issues before him and constituted gratuitous interjections, including the use of the N-word in a hypothetical while arguing with an expert witness. Former Judge Shore’s misconduct was significantly aggravated by the severe public censure issued in 2023. |
| Documents | [ DECISION ] |