Justice accused of drunken misbehavior at courthouse in new allegations

New details surrounding the alleged conduct of 2nd District Court of Appeal Justice Jeffrey W. Johnson claims he imbibed alcohol at the appellate courthouse into the late night hours, allowing a woman companion to climb a statue in the lobby and inviting a custodian to join the party.

The new allegations in an amended notice posted by the Commission on Judicial Performance indicates the commission continues to investigate claims against Johnson, who is accused of sexually harassing or making inappropriate remarks to 14 women, including two fellow justices and a California Highway Patrol officer.

A hearing date in which parties will introduce evidence before a panel of special masters, whose decision can be rejected by the commission, has not yet been set. The panel includes 4th District Court of Appeal Justice Judith L. Haller, San Diego County Superior Court Judge Louis R. Hanoian and Imperial County Superior Court Judge William D. Lehman.

The amended charges state Johnson returned to the Ronald Reagan State Building three times between 2015 and 2018 with unidentified, intoxicated men and women, including in 2015, when a young woman in his company allegedly climbed a stone lion statue at 1 a.m. in front of Johnson and then fell down.

"You also asked a building custodian if he wanted to come to your chambers to party with you and the women," according to the commission's amended notice, which was prepared Feb. 22.

In 2016, Johnson allegedly directed the building custodian to escort a man, who appeared intoxicated, and a woman, to his chambers, according to the commission. Another time Johnson appeared to be so intoxicated during an evening in December 2017 that he was holding onto the walls of the courthouse for balance, according to the commission, which stated the conduct violated the California Code of Judicial Ethics.

None of the new details give rise to harassment claims.

Johnson has denied the more serious accusations of groping and unsolicited sexual overtures. In one of the counts the justice disputes, Johnson is accused of groping fellow Justice Victoria G. Chaney over a period of nine years.

He claimed in his reply to the commission he never intentionally or inappropriately touched Chaney, stating she was "warm and playful" toward him during those years and that she never issued a formal complaint. Johnson pointed out that Chaney wrote to the governor's office in 2014 praising his character.

Johnson is also accused of propositioning CHP Officer Tatiana Sauquillo for sex, inviting her into his home in a "sexually suggestive" tone, according to the commission.

The justice said he wasn't making sexual advances on the officer because he was under stress at the time due to threats against his family and CHP officers were his security.

Other allegations include comments made by Johnson about the physical appearance of various staff employees, as well as being publicly intoxicated in his capacity as a member of the judiciary.

Johnson, a 10-year veteran of the appellate court who was once considered for the California Supreme Court, faces potential removal from the bench.

His court-appointed attorney, Paul S. Meyer, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday, nor did the commission.