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Marc Garcia (California)
Marc Garcia was a judge for the Superior Court of Merced County in Merced County, California. He was appointed to the court by former Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on October 3, 2007, to fill a newly created seat. Garcia was re-elected in 2010 to a term that would have expired in 2017.[1][2] However, Garcia resigned from the bench before the end of his term on May 15, 2015.[3] See: In the news section below.
Education
Garcia received his bachelor's degree from the California Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo and his J.D. from the San Francisco School of Law.[2]
Career
- 2007-2015: Judge, Superior Court of Merced County
- 2004-2007: Sole practitioner, Merced County
- 2001-2003: Partner, Morse Pfeiff & Garcia
- 1999-2001: Associate, Morse Pfeiff & Garcia
- 1995-1999: Deputy district attorney, Merced County District Attorney's Office[2]
Elections
2010
In 2010, Garcia was re-elected to the Superior Court of Merced County for another six-year term.[1]
Noteworthy events
Garcia accused of concealing $250,000 in payments
In March 2015, California state officials began investigations into allegations that Garcia accepted $250,000 from his former law partners, while on the bench. The California Commission on Judicial Performance issued a statement on March 10, 2015, alleging that Garcia violated the California Code of Judicial Ethics by concealing the payments, failing to disclose the payments on his Statements of Economic Interest, and for failing to disqualify himself when attorneys from his former firm appeared before his bench.[4][5] The notice of formal proceedings can be read here.
Update May 2015: On May 15, 2015, Garcia resigned from his office as judge of the Superior Court of Merced County for his failure to disclose $250,000 that was paid to him by his former law partners. Garcia agreed to a formal resolution with the California Commission on Judicial Performance, whereby he would resign from the court but be able to continue denying allegations that he concealed the payments made to him.[6]
Garcia argued that what he had done was a mistake, but he had not intentionally concealed the payments he was receiving from his former law partners while on the bench. He stated that the non-disclosure "created the appearance" of attempted concealment and that "[p]erception is just as important as reality in this case. It would’ve been unfair to the courts and the community (to not resign). ... Because of the nature of the situation, there always would’ve been a question potentially in the minds of the people appearing in my court regarding my abilities to do my job effectively."[6]
On May 18, 2015, the California Commission on Judicial Performance imposed the maximum penalty against Garcia by censuring and barring him from "receiving assignments or appointments from any court."[7]
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 California Courts, "Trial Courts Roster," accessed March 13, 2015
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Metropolitan News-Enterprise, "Schwarzenegger Names 13 as Superior Court Judges in Nine Counties," October 4, 2007
- ↑ Merced Sun-Star, "Merced judge to resign from Superior Court," May 14, 2015
- ↑ Merced Sun-Star, "State accuses Merced judge of ethical violations," March 10, 2015
- ↑ State of California Commission on Judicial Performances, "Inquiry concerning Judge Marc A. Garcia: Notice of Formal Proceedings," March 5, 2015
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Merced Sun-Star, "Merced judge to resign from Superior Court," May 14, 2015
- ↑ Metropolitan News-Enterprise, "CJP Censures Former Merced Judge Marc A. Garcia, Bars Him From Assignments or Appointments," May 19, 2015
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