SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A Northern California judge who agreed to resign after swiping two art deco-style business cardholders from a judges' dinner in San Francisco says he remains deeply remorseful.
Napa County Superior Court Judge Michael S. Williams' resignation will take effect Dec. 5, which is also when he can retire. He is 70.
The Commission on Judicial Performance this week announced its censure of Williams, saying his conduct last year seriously undermined public confidence in the judiciary.
"It was just a moment of ridiculous stupidity and I just don't understand why I did it," he told The Associated Press. "I really regret it completely."
Williams was attending a dinner hosted by a matrimonial lawyers association in March 2016 when he pocketed two cardholders in the art deco decor of The City Club of San Francisco.
The holders contained the business cards of the club's managers. They were each worth about $30 to $50.
The commission says Williams returned the cardholders after being informed that he was caught on video.
Williams has agreed not to seek or hold judicial office. He became a judge of Napa County in 2012.
- Posted July 21, 2017
- Tweet This | Share on Facebook
Judge who pocketed two cardholders agrees to resign
headlines Macomb
- New leadership team takes helm at State Bar
- Four weeks before Election Day, mail ballot returns are up 30% over same point in 2022
- Belleville woman arraigned in connection with alleged arson, felonious assault
- Warren man pleads No Contest to Felonious Assault and dog stabbing
- Woman sentenced for mortgage fraud, filing a false $374,000 tax refund return
headlines National
- Melissa Hart, the chair of the ABA Legal Ed council, dies
- Judge suspended after indictment over alleged perjury
- Bill Withers’ music publisher files copyright suit over Olivia Dean’s ‘I’ve Seen It’
- Judge reinstates US attorney in Washington fired by Trump
- Interim law dean of University of Florida named to permanent role
- Clio acquires Learned Hand, an AI company for courts, judges
