SAN FRANCISCO — Allegations that a Tulare County judge bombarded his clerk with thousands of dollars in gifts and hundreds of text messages were enough to jeopardize his career, but on Wednesday a disciplinary commission suggested he dug himself into an even deeper hole by lying about his misconduct.
Judge Valeriano Saucedo, 64, faces possible removal from office over accusations that he used his status and expensive presents to pressure his clerk into an inappropriate and unwanted relationship. During a hearing Wednesday before the Commission on Judicial Performance, chairperson Erica Yew suggested Saucedo’s dishonesty might buy him a harsher punishment.
