Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

 

Page 1

 

CJP Chastises Orange Superior Court Judge Derek W. Hunt

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

The Commission on Judicial Performance yesterday publicly admonished a controversial Orange Superior Court judge, Derek W. Hunt, pinpointing misconduct in four cases.

“In three of those cases, Judge Hunt denied the parties a full right to be heard before making orders in their cases,” the commission said. “The judge also made remarks reflecting poor demeanor and engaged in conduct that gave an appearance of bias.”

Hunt has drawn criticism in the Court of Appeal and, the commission disclosed yesterday, received an advisory letter in 2009 based on commenting to a reporter, improperly, on a case he had handled which was on appeal.

One instance of misconduct cited by the disciplinary body entailed issuing a tentative ruling before opposition was received, saying:

“I have to go back and review this. And don’t be surprised if you see there’s not much changed between what the minute order will say and what I already said, but if you get open—that’s why you’re here. You’re here to get me to think about it.”

Opposition was filed that evening but by that time, Hunt had adopted his tentative as the ruling, granting a motion to dismiss. The Court of Appeal reversed on July 29, 2020.

Eight members of the commission voted in favor of the public admonishment, two did not participate, and one—Court of Appeal Justice William Dato of the Fourth District’s Div. One—favored a private admonishment.

 

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