The courtroom is meant to be a place of dignity, impartiality, and due process. A judge, in particular, is expected to embody these principles. The disciplinary case of former Orange County Superior Court Judge Derek W. Hunt is a sobering reminder of what happens when a judge’s personal temperament and impatience get in the way of justice. His career ended not in quiet retirement, but with a public admonishment from the California Commission on Judicial Performance (CJP) for a pattern of behavior that was found to be a serious violation of his ethical duties.
A Pattern of Disregard for the Law
The CJP’s investigation revealed a consistent pattern of misconduct. Judge Hunt was not sanctioned for a single error in judgment but for a repeated failure to adhere to the fundamental rules of judicial conduct.
- Denying Due Process: In multiple cases, Judge Hunt was found to have denied parties their basic right to be heard. In one instance, he adopted a tentative ruling as final, even though the opposing party had filed their objection just hours earlier. This kind of action is a complete disregard for due process. It shows a judge who is more concerned with efficiency than with fairness, a dangerous quality in a courtroom.
- Intemperate and Biased Remarks: Perhaps the most shocking aspect of his misconduct was his unprofessional demeanor. The CJP found that Judge Hunt made “discourteous” and “intemperate” remarks that created a clear appearance of bias. In one case, he publicly mocked a plaintiff, calling them a “snowflake” and suggesting they needed to “litigate like a grown-up.” This kind of behavior has no place in a courtroom. It is a form of judicial bullying that demeans the legal process and can intimidate litigants from seeking justice.
- Ignoring the Law: The CJP also found that he had “intentionally disregard[ed] the law.” In one case, his ruling was so flawed that it was reversed by an appellate court, which criticized his actions as “arbitrary and unreasonable.” This isn’t just a simple mistake; it’s a deliberate choice to ignore established legal precedent.
A History of Warnings
Judge Hunt’s disciplinary record wasn’t new. He had received a prior advisory letter from the CJP in 2009 for improperly commenting on a case to a reporter. This history makes his subsequent behavior even more troubling. It shows a pattern of ignoring the ethical boundaries of his office, even after being warned.
His retirement in June 2023 didn’t stop the CJP from issuing a second public admonishment in August of that year. This final censure was a direct consequence of additional instances of poor demeanor, including telling a litigant he would stop reading their opposition when he got “bored.”
The CJP’s Final Word
The case of Judge Derek W. Hunt is a powerful lesson in judicial ethics. It shows that a judge’s role is not just to make rulings, but to do so with dignity, impartiality, and respect for the law and the people before them. A judge’s temperament is a critical part of their competence. When a judge’s frustration or impatience leads to disrespectful remarks and a denial of due process, they have failed in their duty. The CJP’s public admonishment sends a clear message that such behavior is unacceptable and will not be tolerated, even for a long-serving jurist.