JUDICIAL ACCOUNTABILITY - UNFITNESS, TRANSGRESSION, AND THE MISFIT - THE STATE OF THE ART IN CALIFORNIA

• NCJ Number: 17831
• Journal: LOS ANGELES BAR BULLETIN Volume: 49 Issue: 10 Dated: (AUGUST 1974) Pages: 411-414,429-432
• Author(s): J E FRANKEL
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: Los Angeles Cty
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

REVIEW OF THE WORK OF CALIFORNIA'S JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION, WHICH WAS SET UP IN 1960 TO RECEIVE, INVESTIGATE, DISPOSE OF AND OTHERWISE ACT UPON COMPLAINTS AGAINST STATE JUDGES.

Abstract

THE COMMISSION HAS THE POWER TO RECOMMEND CASES TO THE SUPREME COURT FOR JUDICIAL CENSURE, REMOVAL, OR RETIREMENT. THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF JUDGES WHICH TEND TO BE LABELED AS 'UNFIT' OR INCOMPETENT ARE DESCRIBED. THE DIFFICULTY OF REMOVING THE JUDICIAL MISFIT IS DISCUSSED AND SOME SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM ARE PROPOSED. THEY INCLUDE ADOPTION OF A SELECTION PLAN WHICH WOULD EMPHASIZE JUDICIAL APTITUDE OVER POLITICAL AND SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, MODERNIZATION OF LOCAL COURT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE, IMPROVEMENT OF BAR PLEBISCITES AND JUDICIAL ELECTIONS, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MORE JUDICIAL ORIENTATIONS, TRAINING SESSIONS, WORKSHOPS, AND COLLEGE COURSES.