Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Friday, April 20, 2018

 

Page 1

 

CJP Slates Hearing for Ex-Judge Who Is Running for A.G. for After Primary

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Former El Dorado Superior Court Judge Steven Bailey, who is facing Commission on Judicial Performance charges, is running for attorney general as “JUDGE STEVEN BAILEY” with [RET.] in small print.

 

The Commission on Judicial Performance has slated a disciplinary hearing for former El Dorado Superior Court Judge Steven C. Bailey—who is presently a dark horse candidate for state attorney general—for June 11, six days after the primary.

Charges include using his status as a judge to solicit funds for his attorney general campaign and commencing his campaign, making appearances and posting a Facebook campaign page, prior to leaving the bench; ordering defendants to become enrolled in a for-profit program without revealing that the company that runs it employs his son; and allowing a testimonial by him for a private company to be posted on its website.

The commission said yesterday the public hearing will take place at 9 a.m. in the courtroom of the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento. Serving as special masters appointed by the Court of Appeal Justice Victoria G. Chaney of this district’s Court of Appeal, San Diego Superior Court Judge Louis R. Hanoian, and Imperial Superior Court Judge William D. Lehman.

Institution of formal proceedings against Bailey were announced Feb. 21.

Additional Charges

Other charges include his appointing as a special master in a case an attorney who was not on the court-approved list and without revealing that the man was a close personal friend, compensating him in the amount of $1,715; receiving improper gifts from the lawyer he appointed as a master and from others; failing to report the receipt of gifts; making a remark (in a favorable context) about gays; and raising campaign funds before filing the necessary papers.

Bailey has the endorsement of 21 county Republican central committees and the statewide California Republican Assembly.

The candidate is running as “JUDGE STEVEN BAILEY,” placing “[RET.] in small type, not discernible in campaign emails. In his emails, the sender is identified as “Judge Steven Bailey-Attorney General 2018” and his email address is “judgebailey@baileyforag.com.”

His ballot designation, however, is “Retired California Judge.” He is listed as a Republican.

Other Candidates

Others running, including ballot designations and parties, are Xavier Becerra, “Appointed Attorney General of the State of California,” Democrat; Dave Jones, “California Insurance Commissioner,” Democrat; Eric Early, “Attorney/Business Owner,” Republican; and Adriane Rose Bracciale, no designation, Peace and Freedom.

Early is a practicing attorney with the 24-attorney law firm of Early Sullivan Wright Gizer & McRae LLP. He is backed by former Los Angeles County District Attorneys Steve Cooley and Robert Philibosian, as well as Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchins.

Bracciale is a San Bernardino criminal defense attorney.

 

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