Former California Judge Returns as Lawyer With License Restored

A former Contra Costa County Superior Court judge tossed for misconduct has persuaded the California Supreme Court to agree with a state bar decision restoring his law license.

The justices, during their weekly meeting on Wednesday, granted Judge John T. Laettner’s petition to reinstate him as a lawyer. The court in June 2020 refused to consider the Commission on Judicial Performance ruling that removed Laettner from the bench.

• The commission, an independent state agency that investigates judicial misconduct, found Laettner engaged in “a significant amount of misconduct,” including five acts of willful misconduct and 11 acts of prejudicial misconduct
• The ...