Ex-Judge Censured Over Raunchy Jokes, Alleged Power Abuse

A state panel announced Thursday that it has censured former Orange County Superior Court Judge James Randal Ross, whose courtroom behavior had been the subject of several inquiries over the last year.

The Commission on Judicial Performance heard allegations last year that Ross, who retired in 1995, used the court to sell copies of a book he wrote about his great-grandfather, famed Western outlaw Jesse James. The panel also heard allegations that Ross had told raunchy jokes during a trial and had fallen asleep at the bench on several occasions. Ross has denied the allegations.

During the hearings, the 71-year-old Ross represented himself, sometimes joking and digressing from the matter at hand. In November, the panel ruled that Ross had abused his power in several instances and upheld all the allegations except for falling asleep during trial.

The commission’s censure, which will become final at the end of May, prohibits Ross from receiving assignments, appointments or references of work from any state court.