By Victor Li

LOS ANGELES — In a high-stakes disciplinary proceeding that underscored mounting tensions over judicial decorum, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Draper appeared before the California Commission on Judicial Performance on Wednesday to vigorously defend himself against serious allegations that he made inappropriate and racially charged comments from the bench.

The hearing, which was closely watched by legal professionals across Southern California, quickly devolved into an uncomfortable and awkward spectacle. According to reports from Bloomberg Law, Judge Draper appeared visibly nervous, hesitant, and ill-at-ease as he attempted to refute a barrage of complaints accusing him of using unprofessional language regarding race and gender during court proceedings.

The formal disciplinary complaint, which was filed by the commission in January, primarily centers upon Judge Draper’s handling of a contentious 2022 civil rights case, Odom v. Los Angeles Community College District. In that underlying lawsuit, a female professor alleged that the educational institution had failed to adequately protect her from persistent sexual harassment perpetrated by a colleague. Although the litigation involved strictly employment and discrimination claims devoid of any direct race-related causes of action, the judicial misconduct complaint asserts that Draper crossed professional boundaries during courtroom exchanges with participating attorneys.

Specifically, the commission’s allegations state that Judge Draper utilized racially insensitive and antiquated terminology, including terms such as "coal black" and "light brown," when describing Black individuals during the course of the proceedings. Furthermore, the complaint contends that the veteran jurist engaged in unprofessional conduct regarding female participants, reportedly referring to adult women as "little girls" and making unsolicited commentary regarding the physical appearance of a female witness who testified during the case.

Taking the defensive stance on Wednesday, Judge Draper attempted to dismantle the commission’s claims by discrediting the accounts of those who had reported his courtroom behavior. During the hearing, he went so far as to claim that an attorney who had expressed deep dismay and offense over his remarks during the Odom trial was fabricating her account. In an effort to bolster his reputation for professional courtesy, Draper pointed to a written statement submitted by attorney Jamie Wright, who had noted in her professional interactions that the judge had "treated me with the utmost courtesy."

However, Draper’s attempt to highlight Wright’s positive assessment took an unexpected and awkward turn that immediately drew scrutiny from the presiding panel members. Elaborating on Wright’s character, Draper described the attorney as a "beautiful young woman." The remark prompted Mani Sheik, a commissioner for the California Commission on Judicial Performance, to interrupt and press the judge for clarification, directly asking whether the comment was intended as an assessment of her physical appearance or her character.

Seeking to neutralize the implications of his statement, Draper offered a sprawling and unconventional explanation. "To me, a beautiful young woman is like a beautiful young man. I’m not sexually attracted to him," Draper stated during the proceedings. "A beautiful young woman is somebody with a soul that I thought was a very honest person."

Observers in the hearing room noted that this exchange was emblematic of a broader pattern of behavior throughout the day, as Draper frequently appeared unsettled and veered off into unrelated tangents when pressed by commissioners for direct answers. Legal ethics experts point out that hearings before the California Commission on Judicial Performance carry profound professional consequences for judges, as the agency holds the constitutional authority to censure, admonish, or remove members of the judiciary for willful misconduct, persistent failure to perform duties, or conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute.

The ongoing disciplinary drama unfolds against a backdrop of significant professional transition and recent political defeat for the embattled judge. Appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court bench in 2012 by then-Governor Jerry Brown, Draper has presided over numerous civil and criminal dockets over the past decade and a half. However, his tenure on the judicial bench is rapidly drawing to a close.

In the June primary election, Draper sought a new term from Los Angeles County voters but ultimately lost his reelection bid to challenger Tal Khan Valbuena, a seasoned Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney. As a result of that electoral defeat, Draper’s current judicial term expires at the turn of the year.

Despite his impending departure, the commission’s impending ruling carries immediate weight for his final months on the bench. Under the rules governing the disciplinary body, the commission is expected to deliberate and announce its formal decision regarding sanctions or removal in the coming weeks. If the commission determines that Draper’s conduct on the bench warrants severe disciplinary action, he could be removed from office prior to January, cutting short his remaining time in judicial chambers. Otherwise, he will be permitted to finish out his term until the newly elected judge, Tal Khan Valbuena, takes the oath of office in January.