Ruling Expected Soon in Judicial Misconduct Case

GLENDALE —  The presiding judge of Glendale Municipal Court is expected to rule this week in a judicial misconduct case involving a veteran commissioner who drew complaints that she had overstepped her bounds by jailing dozens of alleged minor traffic offenders on suspicion of perjury.

Commissioner Dona Bracke, a former Los Angeles County deputy district attorney who has served on the bench since 1990, has been on paid administrative leave since August. The results of an investigation of her conduct were delivered Friday to Presiding Judge James Simpson.

The complaints grew out of Bracke’s practice of having a bailiff telephone insurance companies to verify proof of auto insurance presented by defendants. In court testimony, she acknowledged making some of the calls herself.

If the documents could not be verified, Bracke would order the defendants jailed.

Supporters say that she is following the letter of the law. But some lawyers and judges argue that Bracke overstepped her legal authority.

Bracke did not respond to numerous interview requests. In court testimony, she has said she had documents examined for authenticity only after she had already decided on the defendant’s guilt or innocence.

Bracke said defendants had lied about having valid car insurance to avoid a newly enacted $1,350 fine for first-time offenders, according to court documents and police.