Judge admonished for abusing his authority

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Ronald M. Sohigian was publicly admonished Thursday for mistreating an attorney and abusing his judicial authority.

Sohigian, 69, was disciplined for treating an attorney in a “belittling, rude and sarcastic manner” in 2006, when he ordered the attorney -- who did not have a document with him -- to go across the street to the law library, research an issue and return in 20 minutes.

After the attorney complied, Sohigian said, “I told you to go across the street to the law library. If you didn’t do that, if you had someone call you or you called somebody and had someone read something to you, that’s obviously not what I ordered or suggested at all.”

Sohigian said Thursday in a statement that he was suffering a spine-related health problem and under medication during the time of the complaints. He apologized to the attorney.

“I thought I was acting in full compliance with the law, and I refrained from punishing any party or attorney,” Sohigian said. “The commission has concluded otherwise, and I of course accept the decision of the commission.

“Even before the commission’s decision and order, I have already changed my case management methods.”

The Commission on Judicial Performance also disciplined Sohigian for abusing his judicial authority by issuing orders against people for failing to appear in court, even when they were not required to or their attorney represented them.

The disciplinary action carries no fines or suspensions but is one of the commission’s highest sanctions, and can block future judicial appointments. Only in extreme cases does the commission remove judges from the bench.

A lawyer for nearly 20 years, Sohigian was appointed a judge in 1998 by former Gov. George Deukmejian.

The cases he has presided over include a lawsuit against Death Row Records and a dispute between the late attorney Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. and one of his former clients.

In 1991, Sohigian received an advisory letter for abusing his authority when he sanctioned attorneys for exceeding the page limit on briefs submitted to the court and ordered them to inform all other judges they might try to file too-long briefs with about his sanction.

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ashley.surdin@latimes.com