The state commission on Judicial Performance has announced that it is conducting a formal inquiry into Sacramento Superior Court Judge Peter J. McBrien.
The inquiry stems from charges lodged against McBrien over his handling of a 2004 divorce case in which the Court of Appeal reversed his decision and over ex parte communications he allegedly had in two other cases.
McBrien is scheduled to answer the charges by Oct. 14, after which special masters appointed by the California Supreme Court will decide whether to take action against him.
McBrien's lawyer predicted the special masters will dismiss the charges.
"The full story has not been told, and we intend to tell it," said James Murphy, the San Francisco lawyer who is representing McBrien.
McBrien was admonished by the commission in 2002 for illegally cutting down some trees near his home along the American River Parkway.
