In Re Koven

These contempt proceedings arise from two petitions for rehearing filed by attorney Debra L. Koven (Koven) on behalf of her client, Paul Bashkin (Bashkin). In no uncertain terms Koven accuses us of “deliberate judicial dishonesty.” (In re Buckley (1973) 10 Cal.3d 237, 250 [ 110 Cal.Rptr. 121 , 514 P.2d 1201 ].) These accusations are not only false: they are “insolent, offensive, insulting, and [impugn] the integrity of [this] court.” (Ibid.) After we issued the orders to show cause and apparently after some reflection, Koven now concedes that the accusations “are both improper and inexcusable on their face ...” She “apologizes for the improper statements in the petitions, [and] expresses deep regret for impugning the [integrity of this] Court, and accepts the embarrassment she has brought upon herself.”

We accept Koven’s apology. Nevertheless, we do not purge Koven of the contempts she committed because her unsupported accusations of judicial misconduct are patently outrageous. Moreover, there is an aggravating factor. Koven has engaged in a pattern of abuse. She has also impugned the integrity of the trial judge, opposing counsel, and counsel’s expert witnesses. (See…