California chief justice: Release judges’ names in sex cases

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California’s top judge says state courts should disclose the names of judges and other court officials who have entered into settlement agreements to resolve sexual harassment complaints.

California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye said Tuesday she is asking the policymaking body for California’s courts, the Judicial Council, to revise rules to make it clear that the information is public.

Cantil-Sakauye said current rules are ambiguous.

The announcement comes after the Judicial Council said in March that it had paid more than $500,000 in taxpayer funds since 2011 to settle five complaints of sexual harassment against judges and other court employees.

The council, however, said attorney-client privilege and other ethical obligations of attorneys did not allow it to disclose any names or details in the individual cases.