Judge Is Hit With Series of Allegations

A Los Angeles County judge faces disciplinary action for allegedly starting court late to make a radio appearance and offering his opinion on television in a case involving alleged brutality by an Inglewood police officer.

Those were among the allegations made Thursday against Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Kevin A. Ross by the state Commission on Judicial Performance.

Ross, assigned to the Metropolitan Court near downtown Los Angeles, became a judge in 1999 when he ousted a sitting Inglewood Municipal Court judge in a contested election.

The commission has the power to admonish, censure or remove a judge from office for violating the judiciary’s ethics code.

Ross also was accused of abusing his authority when he added a misdemeanor charge to a traffic case last year. In that case, Debbie Fuentes contested a 1996 ticket for driving without a license and not wearing a seat belt, saying authorities had the wrong person. She was shorter and heavier than the offender described on the ticket and had a different birthday.

Yet Ross allegedly concluded that her declaration was false, added a “false evidence” charge and remanded her to county jail, where she spent two days before posting $2,500 bail, the commission said. Another judge later dismissed the charges.

In another case, Ross allegedly ordered his bailiff to remove Deputy Public Defender Lisa Gordon from his courtroom when she insisted that her client, who denied violating probation on three misdemeanors, demanded a hearing.

The Commission on Judicial Performance alleged that Ross, who revoked the defendant’s probation without a hearing, violated the man’s due process rights and interfered with his right to counsel.

Other allegations involve two absences from court by Ross for media events, including a taping of “Life and Times Tonight” on KCET-TV Channel 28.

On that program, the judge allegedly violated ethical rules by commenting on the pending criminal prosecution of former Inglewood Police Officer Jeremy Morse.

Ross’ attorney declined to comment Thursday.