Boycotted Judge Orders Prosecutor Out of Court, Threatens to Jail Him

A dispute between the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office and a Van Nuys Superior Court judge intensified Tuesday when the judge ordered a prosecutor out of his courtroom and threatened to jail the prosecutor when he protested.

In an angry exchange, Judge Melvin B. Grover called Deputy Dist. Atty. Edward G. Feldman “a liar” and “a cheat.” The judge later accused Feldman of employing sneaky maneuvers to try to keep him from hearing criminal cases.

“Mr. Feldman, why don’t you get out of my courtroom,” Grover said in the morning argument. “Life is too short to have you in my courtroom.”

Feldman left after Grover threatened to have a bailiff throw him into the court’s lockup for County Jail inmates. Feldman later called the judge’s action “completely unprovoked.”

‘Affidavits of Prejudice’

The district attorney’s office announced Oct. 18 that prosecutors would file “affidavits of prejudice” against Grover, asking him to remove himself from each criminal case, because they believe he mistreats prosecutors and is biased in favor of defendants.

Although Grover has no legal ground to fight the affidavits on new criminal cases sent to his courtroom, he has rejected the papers on several cases that were pending before him when the district attorney’s office began the boycott.

When the old cases are resolved, Grover said, he expects to be transferred to civil work at another courthouse in the county, probably on Jan. 1, when judges receive new assignments.

In the meantime, Feldman, who is the deputy district attorney regularly assigned to Grover’s courtroom, has been filing the affidavits each day. The outburst Tuesday came when Grover announced that he was ready to hear a case and Feldman explained that the judge had previously approved the affidavit and that the matter had been transferred to another courtroom.

Harsh Words for Attorney

“I cannot trust you,” Grover said. “I do not want to have anything to do with you. You’re here not to do anything for the justice system. You’re here solely to obstruct justice.”

Feldman left soon afterward.

Asked by a reporter what had prompted him to order Feldman out of the courtroom, Grover responded sarcastically: “He breathed.”

Grover then said he believes Feldman has been “harassing” him and abusing his authority by filing affidavits on cases in which the judge already has made certain pretrial rulings. The law allows the judge to remain on such cases.

Mike Carroll, head of the district attorney’s Van Nuys branch, said he would confer with his superiors before deciding whether to send Feldman back to Grover’s court or ask another prosecutor to handle cases there.

Carroll said Grover’s action Tuesday “supports our original position” that the judge abuses prosecutors.

“It’s totally aberrant behavior,” Carroll said.