Retired in 2004, and still ‘signing’ bogus orders

I read with interest the Sept. 11 article, "Professor uncovers nationwide scams involving fake court orders," regarding bogus court orders.

Between 1998 and 2002 I was the presiding judge of the San Diego County Superior Court. During that period, orders carrying my signature began showing up. People in Mexico, South Korea, Colorado and other parts of the world contacted my clerk to find out if an order they had received was legitimate. All of them purported to grant/deny relief in family law cases (like child custody or visitation). The copies of the orders were blatantly fake. (They referenced, as authority for issuing the order, a little used code section that had nothing to do with the supposed subject of the order.) It appeared the documents originated in Mexico. Federal authorities were contacted, but declined to get involved. As recently as earlier this year I received an inquiry about my signature on an order (I have been retired since 2004). It was yet another fake.

-- Wayne L. Peterson

San Diego County Superior Court (Ret.)