Inquiry Concerning Mills

*CJP Supp. 4 Opinion

I

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY

This disciplinary matter concerns Judge Bruce Clayton Mills, a judge of the Contra Costa County Superior Court. The commission commenced this inquiry with the filing of its Notice of Formal Proceedings (Notice) on November 1, 2012. The Notice charges Judge Mills in a single count with engaging in judicial misconduct through his communications with a courtroom clerk and a pro tempore judge in nonpublic areas of the courthouse concerning his son’s scheduled court appearance on an order to show cause for failure to complete volunteer work ordered in a tobacco infraction case. The Notice alleges that the judge sought and received credit for time his son spent in a residential program in lieu of the required community service.

The Supreme Court appointed three special masters who held an evidentiary hearing and reported to the commission. The masters are the Honorable Dennis M. Perluss, Associate Justice of the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District; the Honorable Gail A. Andler, Judge of the Orange County Superior Court; and the Honorable Vincent J. O’Neill, Jr., Judge of the Ventura County Superior Court. Judge Mills is…