A former Contra Costa County Superior Court judge removed from the bench following allegations of misconduct failed to present sufficient evidence of rehabilitation in order to lift the suspension of his law license, according to a State Bar Court ruling.

The Commission on Judicial Performance voted to oust John Laettner from office in November 2019 after investigating 28 allegations of wrongdoing, including improper ex parte communications, “undignified and inappropriate” comments to women and failing to disclose or disqualify certain cases involving his son, a deputy district attorney. Laettner’s law license also was suspended.