Opinion ID: 1787171
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: The Ocura Case [2]

Text: The Ocura arrest and prosecution occurred after Judge McMillan became a judge and while JQC proceedings arising out of the election were pending. The record reflects that Judge McMillan testified that he saw Mr. Ocura driving in a manner leading Judge McMillan to believe that Mr. Ocura was intoxicated. Judge McMillan then called law enforcement on his cell phone to arrest Mr. Ocura, stopped at the scene, and subsequently signed a witness statement for police at the scene describing Mr. Ocura's erratic actions. Mr. Ocura's first appearance on the criminal charges arising out of the driving episode was scheduled in county court the next morning in front of Judge Robert Farrance. Judge Farrance was the sole judge assigned to first appearance for the week in question. Judge McMillan admitted that his normal scheduled duties as a judge that week did not include presiding over first appearances. On the morning of Mr. Ocura's first appearance, January 31, Judge McMillan actually went to the room where first appearances are held and approached the first appearance clerk, Valerie Rosas. Ms. Rosas testified that Judge McMillan told her of the previous night's incident that he had witnessed and he asked her specifically to disclose Mr. Ocura's blood alcohol level. Ms. Rosas handed Judge McMillan the file, which he proceeded to review. According to both Ms. Rosas and Judge Farrance, as soon as Judge Farrance entered the first appearance room, Judge McMillan asked him if he wanted Judge McMillan to take over. Judge Farrance testified that he initially refused, but upon Judge McMillan's insistence, he agreed to let him preside. Judge Farrance was not then aware of the Ocura incident. [3] A transcript of the first appearance proceedings on Mr. Ocura's case reflects what happened next when Judge McMillan addressed Mr. Ocura: I'm the guy that was behind you in the car that called the police and had you arrested. So I am probably not a good person to address the issue of your bond except that you blew over a .30 and quite frankly sir, you almost hit several cars and ... at one point you made a u-turn and I thought you were going to run head on into me. . . . . Okay, I'm going to set your bond at $100,000 for now, but I'm going to have it reviewed by another judge later, tomorrow, okay? And make sure I'm not out line. Okay we'll see you tomorrow. Judge McMillan testified he decided to set such a high bond only after the assistant state attorney on the case informed him of Mr. Ocura's extensive prior DUI record. As it relates to the reason why Judge McMillan volunteered to do first appearance that morning, the JQC points out this colloquy during Special Counsel's examination of Judge McMillan: [Special Counsel]: You were aware when you took the first appearance calendar that Mr. Ocura would be one of the defendants to be arraigned? [Judge McMillan]: I will tell you, quite frankly, by the time I got finished with my conversation with Farrance, I had forgotten all about Ocura. Based on this testimony, the JQC also found Judge McMillan to be untruthful and lacking in candor in his response. The JQC found that McMillan was fully aware of the ethical improprieties implicated in his handling of Mr. Ocura's first appearance. The JQC further concluded, however, that regardless of Judge McMillan's motivation, when a judicial officer is a personal witness in a case, but nevertheless intentionally presides over the case, even on preliminary matters, the public's confidence in the neutrality and impartiality of the judicial system is severely and adversely impacted.