State Panel Urges Public Admonishment for Judge

A state agency recommended Monday that an Orange County judge receive a public admonishment for making inappropriate comments to parties involved in three criminal cases between 1993 and 1997.

The Commission on Judicial Performance criticized Judge Susanne S. Shaw for comments she made to prosecutors about two criminal cases--in one instance she suggested some Orange County prosecutors had drinking problems--and to a criminal defendant in a third case.

In addition, the commission questioned whether Shaw acted professionally by singing to criminal defendants while in court. At a hearing last year, Shaw said she sings to defendants to add levity to the courtroom and because she has “a happy heart.”

“The commission remains concerned that singing in court is problematic, as are many attempts to inject levity into court proceedings,” the commission concluded in a 15-page report. The singing should not be mentioned in Shaw’s public admonishment, the commission concluded.

The state agency has the authority to impose disciplinary measures ranging from a private cautionary letter to removal from the bench. The state Supreme Court must approve all punishments recommended by the commission. It must act on Shaw’s case within 30 days.