Fisher

*4 While serving as an administrative law judge for the State Personnel Board (SPB), Richard Paul Fisher joined the law firm of Simas & Associates as "of counsel." Simas & Associates specialized in representing clients facing administrative actions, including those heard by the SPB. Indeed, the Simas law firm represented a CalTrans employee in a high-profile case that was being heard before the SPB while Fisher was serving his dual roles. Unaware Fisher was working for the very law *386 firm representing the CalTrans employee, the SPB administrative law judge hearing the high-profile case discussed the matter in a meeting attended by Fisher and even sent a draft opinion to her SPB colleagues, including Fisher. Fisher, however, never informed anyone at the SPB of his connection with the Simas law firm. Fisher's connection with the law firm came to light only when another administrative law judge was asked about the matter during a local bar function. The SPB dismissed Fisher from his position as an administrative law judge.

Fisher challenged the dismissal, which was affirmed after a hearing before the Office of Administrative Hearings. 1 After a petition for writ of administrative…