Opinion ID: 1444402
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Count One B: Ex Parte Contacts With Peter Vanderputten

Text: In connection with the dissolution of his marriage, Peter Vanderputten was criminally charged with violating court orders, violating a protective order, and allowing or causing a child to suffer. Under an agreement with the district attorney, Vanderputten pleaded guilty to the charges, and sentencing was continued, with dismissal to follow after a year if he committed no further violations and obeyed court orders. The case remained pending before petitioner until he dismissed the charges in accordance with the plea agreement. During that time, Vanderputten often appeared before petitioner for compliance review. At some point, Vanderputten talked about committing suicide and other violent acts. In response, and to protect Vanderputten and his family, petitioner recommended that Vanderputten seek counseling. As an alternative, petitioner advised Vanderputten that he was welcome to attend a Saturday morning men's fellowship group that petitioner led. Vanderputten attended petitioner's fellowship group a few times. The men at the group were supporting him and trying to get him to leave his wife alone, and ... obey all laws, to act like a reasonable person. On this record, we agree with the Commission's unanimous conclusion that petitioner committed prejudicial misconduct by engaging in improper ex parte contacts with Vanderputten. (See former Cal.Code Jud. Conduct, canon 3A(4), as adopted eff. Jan. 1, 1975, see now Cal.Code Jud. Ethics, canon 3B(7).) The evidence clearly shows that at petitioner's fellowship meetings Vanderputten discussed the very problems that led to the criminal charges pending before petitioner and his difficulties in accepting the situation. By his own admission, petitioner viewed himself as Vanderputten's probation officer. In one of his responses to the Commission, petitioner conceded that, because of these ex parte contacts, he would have had to disqualify [him]self' from hearing allegations that Vanderputten violated his plea bargain. We agree with petitioner's concession and conclude that he committed prejudicial misconduct with regard to Vanderputten. (See Code Civ. Proc., § 170.1, subd. (a)(6).) We reject petitioner's claim that this conclusion violates his constitutional right to practice his religion. While presiding over a pending criminal case and after recommending that a defendant obtain counseling, petitioner invited that defendant to petitioner's fellowship group specifically to discuss and address the problems underlying the criminal charges. That, as part of addressing those problems, the group members would look to the Bible for guidance does not make our inquiry regarding petitioner's conduct an issue of religious freedom. As a judge, petitioner may not participate in an ongoing support group where defendants with cases pending before him discuss their attempts to comply with the terms of their plea bargains. [12]