Local News in Brief : Newport Beach : Judge Removes Self From Bribery Case
An Orange County Municipal Court judge removed himself Tuesday from the case of restaurateur Francis M. Delaney, charged with trying to bribe a city planning commissioner, because the commissioner contributed to the judge’s campaign.
Judge Glenn A. Mahler disqualified himself to avoid a possible conflict after being told that the commissioner, James C. (Buzz) Person Jr., had contributed $125 at a fund-raiser for Mahler’s November, 1987, campaign. Mahler also ordered the case moved to North County Municipal Court in Fullerton.
“It’s a very standard thing for practicing attorneys to attend fund-raisers for judges,” Deputy Dist. Atty. Gregg Prickett said. “Half the judges here have disqualified themselves” for this reason, he said.
Delaney, 62, of Rancho California is owner the Delaney’s restaurant chain. He is accused of offering Person $20,000 to gain approval to build a restaurant in Newport Beach. Person, who did legal work for Delaney between 1977 and 1985, reported to authorities that he had been offered a bribe.
A pretrial hearing for Delaney was set for Sept. 16.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
