FRESNO, Calif. (AP) - A California judge who was disciplined for courtroom comments and ordering the release of a jailed acquaintance has retired.
Gov. Jerry Brown announced this week that he appointed another court official to fill the vacancy created by the departure of Fresno County Judge James M. Petrucelli.
A state agency admonished Petrucelli in 2007 for conduct it said included discourteous and sarcastic comments to attorneys and litigants.
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In 2015, the same agency censured the judge for ordering the release of his acquaintance arrested on suspicion of spousal abuse.
Petrucelli told the Fresno Bee after a mother recently accused him of belittling her in court that it was not his “thought process” to offend anyone.
Messages to a Fresno County court spokeswoman Friday seeking comment from the judge were not immediately returned.
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Information from: The Fresno Bee, http://www.fresnobee.com
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