El Dorado County judge admonished by judicial commission
By Carlos Alcala, Sacramento Bee
El Dorado County Superior Court Judge James R. Wagoner has received public admonishment from the California Commission on Judicial Performance.
The admonishment is the lowest of three levels of public discipline administered by the Commission and has neither further sanctions nor appeals.
The commission’s investigation showed that Wagoner, currently assistant presiding judge in El Dorado County, acted outside his authority in having Penny Arnold jailed on July 16, 2010.
Wagoner left his second floor courtroom in the Main Street Courthouse in Placerville and ordered Arnold to his courtroom.
When she would not comply, he had bailiffs arrest her for contempt.