Judge Censured After Trying to Aid Friend
State authorities have disciplined a Long Beach municipal judge accused of trying to use her position to free a friend from jail.
The state Commission on Judicial Performance issued a public admonishment--a mid-level penalty--to Judge Elvira S. Austin last week after a formal inquiry.
The commission, an 11-member panel, found that Austin called several law enforcement agencies May 16 to try to order the release of a personal friend who was in custody.
“In the calls, Judge Austin initially denied she was attempting to use her office, but then repeatedly invoked her judicial position and appeared to order her friend’s release,” the commission said in a statement.
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