In re Inquiry Concerning Ross

*CJP Supp. 85 Opinion

I. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

This disciplinary matter concerns Judge Kevin A. Ross of the Los Angeles County Superior Court. On August 30, 2004, the commission filed its first amended notice of formal proceedings against Judge Ross in which it charges Judge Ross with the following misconduct:

The Supreme Court appointed three special masters who held an evidentiary hearing and reported to the commission. The masters are Hon. Judith L. Haller, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division One; Hon. Vincent J. O’Neill, Jr., Judge of the Ventura County Superior Court; and Hon. Michael A. Smith, Judge of the San Bernardino County Superior Court. The hearing before the masters took place in Pasadena over four days, November 15 through 18, 2004, followed by oral argument before them on February 10, 2005. The masters presented their detailed 77-page report to the commission on April 18, 2005.

The masters concluded that Judge Ross committed one instance of willful misconduct, four instances of prejudicial misconduct, and one instance of improper action. They concluded that the commission had failed to prove any misconduct in five of…