Opinion ID: 1444402
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Count One D: Ex Parte Contacts with Robert Reagan, Jr.

Text: Robert Reagan, Jr., approached petitioner at [a] restaurant and complained about a speeding violation and told [petitioner] he did not have the money to pay for it. Petitioner knew Reagan by his many appearance[s] in court. Petitioner and Reagan also had attended the same school functions because their children had attended the same school for at least 10 years. Petitioner replied that Reagan could do community service for the fine. Mr. Reagan agreed and [petitioner] gave him a couple of month[s] to complete and show proof. Petitioner also told Reagan that he had to attend traffic school. Petitioner then went back to court, pulled the file, and indicated that he had given Reagan an extension to perform his community service. A few months later, a warrant issued because Reagan had not paid his fine. In court, Reagan stated that he did not understand what had happen[ed] and asked for another chance to do the service and attend traffic school.... In his response to the Commission charges, petitioner stated: Because I had handled it, and I did not have a clerk do it, I felt that I should give him one more chance, and if he failed this time, it would be properly documented by a clerk. Then he would be charged with failure to pay. We agree with the Commission's unanimous finding that petitioner committed prejudicial misconduct in handling the Reagan matter. (See former Cal.Code Jud. Conduct, canon 3A(4), as adopted eff. Jan. 1, 1975, see now Cal.Code Jud. Ethics, canon 3B(7); Code Civ. Proc., § 170.1, subd. (a)(6).) Petitioner informally discussed Reagan's situation at the restaurant and agreed to give him an extension of time in order to perform community service in lieu of a fine. Petitioner then altered the official court file to reflect his informal handling of the matter. According to petitioner's own response, his ex parte handling of this matter confused Reagan and required him to give Reagan still another chance after a warrant was issued when he failed either to pay or to perform community service.