Napa County Superior Court Judge to Resign Following Censure From Commission on Judicial Performance


July 17, 2017 |  

A Napa County Superior Court Judge has agreed to resign following a public censure from the State of California Commission on Judicial Performance.

Williams was censured for taking two business card holders valued at $30 and $50 each, from The City Club of San Francisco while attending a dinner held there by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) on March 9, 2016. On March 29, 2016, Judge Williams returned the cardholders with a letter to The City Club—after an AAML fellow told Judge Williams he had been seen on video taking the cardholders—and Judge Williams self-reported to the commission the following day.
Michael S. Williams 

As part of the censure, Williams has agreed to resign from the bench effective December 5, 2017 and to be absent from the bench after October 19, 2017. 

In its decision, the commission stated that “Judge Williams’s conduct seriously undermines public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary.” In determining to impose a public censure pursuant to the Stipulation, the commission stated, “The judge’s agreement to resign effective December 5, 2017, and not to seek or hold judicial office thereafter affords protection to the public and the reputation of the judiciary in the most expeditious manner by avoiding the delay of further proceedings.” 

Williams was appointed to the bench by Gov. Jerry Brown in December 2012. He filed for re-election in 2014, but due to facing no opposition, was automatically elected to a new term that would have expired in 2021.





Post a Comment Default Comments

1 comment

Eye on Elk Grove said...

Too bad Elk Grove City Council members aren't held to the same high standards. Small gifts get you censored and a possible resignation. Wouldn't that be wonderful!

What about bottles of red wine and ski trips that go unreported on council's SEI along with a $10,000 council-approved sponsorship for an offspring's event? And lo and behold, the sign ordinance is changed and rezone approved!

Key words here are "public confidence in the integrity" of elected officials.

Follow Us

Popular

Archives

Elk Grove News Minute






All previous Elk Grove News Minutes, interviews, and Dan Schmitt's Ya' Gotta be Schmittin' Me podcasts are now available on iTunes

Elk Grove News Podcast




item