State judicial disciplinarians have launched formal proceedings against a Ventura County judge accused of making demeaning and unprofessional comments to lawyers and courthouse employees.

Judge Jeffrey Bennett of the Ventura County Superior Court, elected to the bench in 2008, faces six counts of misconduct stemming from more than two dozen events between 2010 and 2018, according to a notice made public Wednesday by the Commission on Judicial Performance. If the commission finds the charges are proven, Bennett faces discipline ranging from private admonishment to removal from office.