The Commission on Judicial Performance publicly admonished Derek W. Hunt, a judge on the Orange County Superior Court on Tuesday, July 5, 2022. The case is styled as ‘Public Admonishment of Judge Derek W. Hunt’.
The judge was charged with violating Canon A, and Canons 3B(4), 3B(7), 3B(8), 3B(4), which require:
Judges to dispose of all judicial matters fairly, promptly, and efficiently, and to manage the courtroom in a manner that provides all litigants the opportunity to have their matters fairly adjudicated in accordance with the law.
A judge should be patient, dignified, and courteous to those appearing before him.
A judge should act at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary.”
The order reads:
“In three of the cases, Judge Hunt denied the parties a full right to be heard before making orders in their cases. In the cases at issue, Judge Hunt also made remarks reflecting poor demeanor and engaged in conduct that gave an appearance of bias. In three of the four cases, the court of appeal reversed (or issued a writ regarding) Judge Hunt’s rulings. Judge Hunt’s misconduct was aggravated by prior discipline (an advisory letter) for commenting on a pending case for discussing, with a reporter, a case in which he had presided which was still pending before the Court of Appeal.”
The Judge earned a law degree from Cornell University in 1972.
The Judge’s Courtroom is at 700 Civic Center Drive in Santa Ana and can be reached at (657) 622-5223. https://www.occourts.org/media/pdf/profiles/hunt.pdf
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
