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 | Richard W. |
| Last Name | Stanford, Jr. |
| Title | Judge |
| Inquiry No. | 190 |
| Court Level | Superior Court |
| County/Appellate District | Orange |
| Discipline/Determination | Removal from office |
| Decision By | Commission |
| Date of Decision | 01/11/2012 |
| Method of Resolution | Decision |
| Types of Misconduct | Gifts/loans/favors/ticket-fixing |
| Petition For Review | Denied 5/16/12 |
| Summary | The commission ordered Judge Stanford removed from office for a pattern of diverting to his own court and acting on traffic tickets for friends and family over a five-year period. The judge’s conduct included repeatedly engaging in prohibited ex parte communications, entering dispositions based on hearsay information from his wife, failing to recuse when there were obvious conflicts of interest, handling matters not assigned to his court, waiving almost all fees and fines without considering the facts of the offense, the driver’s record or public safety and involving members of court staff in his wrongdoing, which adversely affected court staff. |
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