Report Faults Judge’s Comments From Bench

An Orange County judge has been accused of making undignified and offensive comments in court, from badgering defendants or their families to lecturing a lawyer on her drinking habits.

Superior Court Judge Susanne S. Shaw made “intimidating, demeaning, undignified and discourteous” remarks that gave the appearance of bias or prejudgment, according to a report filed this week by the state Commission on Judicial Performance. According to the report, in one instance Shaw warned a defendant that his appearance would make him a target for unwanted sexual advances while in jail.

Shaw’s attorney, Thomas M. Goethals, said Wednesday that the comments were taken out of context. Shaw is a “straight-talker” whose candor may have offended some defendants, Goethals said, but none of the charges equate to actionable misconduct.

“Judge Shaw can be a little confrontational sometimes, but that’s because she diligently tries to positively influence the behavior of the defendants who come before her,” Goethals said. “She never means any disrespect, and she’s offered to apologize to anyone whose feelings have been hurt by her comments. She’s very sensitive to that.”

The commission will hold a hearing before a three-judge panel. If it rules against the judge, punishment could range from a reprimand to permanent removal from the bench, a commission spokeswoman said. Shaw, 52, was elected to the bench in 1984 and currently handles the felony arraignment calendar at Harbor Court in Newport Beach. The majority of the complaints filed by the commission came before 1998, when Shaw was in charge of the misdemeanor calendar and dealt with from 30 to 50 cases a day, her attorney said.