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 | William H. |
| Last Name | Sullivan |
| Title | Judge |
| Inquiry No. | 163 |
| Court Level | Superior Court |
| County/Appellate District | Riverside |
| Discipline/Determination | Censure and bar |
| Decision By | Commission |
| Date of Decision | 05/17/2002 |
| Method of Resolution | Stipulation |
| Types of Misconduct | Disqualification/disclosure/post-disqualification conduct Failure to cooperate/lack of candor with regulatory authorities Improper business, financial or fiduciary activities Miscellaneous off-bench conduct Off-bench abuse of office/misuse of court information |
| Petition For Review | |
| Summary | Judge Sullivan engaged in a pattern of improper financial dealings and fiduciary activities from the time he became a judge in 1987 until his retirement in 1999, and used his judicial position to further these dealings and activities. The judge presided over probate and trust matters in which he had been involved as attorney and trustee and continued to act as trustee after becoming a judge. He misused trust funds for his own benefit while a trustee, purchased real property from a conservatorship over which he had presided, and failed to disclose information on statements of economic interests. At the time of the commission's decision, the judge had retired from office. |
| Documents |