Another California former judge with prior discipline admonished by the CJP for misconduct which included a pattern ofa pattern of discourteous, undignified, and impatient behavior directed at potential jurors, attorneys, and parties

 

On July 15, the California Commission on Judicial Performance issued a press release about the CJP's public admonishment of former Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James A. Kaddo for misconduct which included a pattern of discourteous, undignified, and impatient behavior directed at potential jurors, attorneys, and parties. In some instances, the judge also conveyed the appearance of embroilment and bias on the basis of gender, sex, race, national origin, or ethnicity.

I have included the first three pages and the last four pages of a 72 page ruling that give you a small preview of another California judge with prior private discipline that continued the behavior.

Press Release:

The Commission on Judicial Performance has publicly admonished former Judge James A. Kaddo of Los Angeles County Superior Court.  The commission determined that it should publicly admonish former Judge Kaddo for misconduct in which he engaged over a six-year period. Former Judge Kaddo engaged in a pattern of discourteous, undignified, and impatient behavior directed at potential jurors, attorneys, and parties. 

In some instances, the judge also conveyed the appearance of embroilment and bias on the basis of gender, sex, race, national origin, or ethnicity.  Former Judge Kaddo’s misconduct included addressing women who appeared before him as “young lady,” “lady,” “this lady,” “these ladies,” and “ma’am,” when he did not use similar terms to address men who appeared before him. 

Former Judge Kaddo also implied that women were too emotional by discussing their “feelings” and telling them to “control” themselves. Former Judge Kaddo also made intemperate and discourteous comments to potential jurors, including numerous complaints that potential jurors had “abused” him. 

Former Judge Kaddo further became embroiled with parties and attorneys, inappropriately argued with counsel, raised his voice on multiple occasions, and made discourteous comments (including telling a litigant to “shut up”).  

Former Judge Kaddo’s misconduct was aggravated by prior discipline. In 2023, the commission privately admonished former Judge Kaddo for speaking in a discourteous and demeaning manner to two self-represented litigants during a small claims trial. In 2004, the commission privately admonished former Judge Kaddo for serving on an arbitration committee in a family law case and displaying a lack of candor when the commission asked him about it.  

Former Judge Kaddo is represented by Randall A. Miller, Esq., of Miller Waxler LLP of Los Angeles. 

First three pages of a 72 page ruling: