A state panel has publicly admonished a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge who repeatedly entered the chambers of her fellow judges without authorization and attempted to access computer files and confidential documents.
The Commission on Judicial Performance confirmed the discipline in a Feb. 11 decision imposing the public admonishment of Judge Daviann Mitchell for entering into the chambers of Supervising Judge Denise McLaughlin-Bennett and Judge Kathleen Blanchard without permission multiple times in 2023.
“The commission found that Judge Mitchell entered the chambers of other judges without permission, after court hours and for an improper purpose; and, in a criminal case, made improper remarks to the defendant while discussing a potential plea agreement,” the commission’s order states.
When McLaughlin-Bennett discovered the surreptitious entries into her chambers, which held confidential documents, she later began locking her door, relocated documents and had security cameras installed in hallways, according to the panel’s decision.
“Judge Mitchell continued to enter Judge McLaughlin-Bennett’s chambers without her permission,” the commission stated. “Ultimately, Supervising Judge McLaughlin-Bennett had the lock changed to the door of her chambers because of Judge Mitchell’s continuing unauthorized entries into her chambers.”
Mitchell entered Judge Blanchard’s chambers six times in 2023 in the evenings when Blanchard was not in the courthouse, according to the order.
In her appearance before the commission, Mitchell expressed sorrow for what she described as “entirely unacceptable conduct.”
“Judge Mitchell ... stated that she ‘lost her way’ in a period of significant personal and professional stress that negatively affected her mental health and her ability to function normally,” the commission stated. “She described her efforts to seek the advice of mentors and court management to address the underlying personnel issues with her colleagues which were contributing to her professional stress.”
Mitchell had contested the imposition of a public admonishment, but the commission said her conduct was a serious breach of trust and flew in the face of the behavior the public expected from a judge.
“Judge Mitchell’s conduct constituted a failure to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary and to personally observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary is preserved …” the panel said, adding that Mitchell’s “extrajudicial activities” demeaned the judicial office.
One of Mitchell’s attorneys, Heather Rosing, said the judge is committed to continuing her court duties.
“Judge Mitchell is continuing to serve the people of the state of California as a judicial officer, and, through a lot of hard work and personal reflection, she has resolved the stressors resulting in this conduct,” Rosing told the Southern California Record in an email.
A joint statement by Rosing and Mitchell’s other attorney, Christine Rosskopf, stressed that the conduct in question occurred at a difficult time in Mitchell’s life.
“She takes full responsibility for her actions and remains committed to living up to the highest standards of her judicial office,” the statement says. “Judge Mitchell appreciates the work of the commission, the support of her colleagues and the opportunity to serve as a judge.”
Mitchell herself also expressed remorse for her actions.
“This admonishment addresses conduct that occurred during a period of extreme personal and professional stress, resulting in a perfect storm where I lost my way and engaged in behavior that does not reflect the person I know myself to be,” she said in a prepared statement. “These choices were my own for which I take full responsibility.”
Mitchell’s current term as judge won’t end until Jan. 6, 2031, according to the Ballotpedia website.