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Judge blocks Sheriff Corpus' request to stop removal
On Wednesday, U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria denied Corpus' fourth attempt to stop her removal.
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - A federal judge rejected the embattled San Mateo County Sheriff's request on Wednesday to put an end to the voter-approved removal process.
The legal team for San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus submitted the request with the U.S. District Court judge to halt the proceedings aimed at her removal from elected office over misconduct claims, but the ruling came down on Wednesday –the fourth such rejection.
Federal judge is ‘skeptical’ Corpus will prevail
What we know:
U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria wrote in the motion, "The Court is skeptical that Corpus will ever be able to prevail on her claims that the removal process violates her federal constitutional rights," adding that the Court wouldn't interfere with "an ongoing local government process."
The Board of Supervisors the power to remove her in a four-fifths vote after the passing of Measure A back in March.
"The process that is in place ensures that the sheriff is heard, ensures that she has due process and then from there, it’ll come to us," said Board President David Canepa.
A removal hearing is set to begin on Monday and a county civil grand jury is expected to hold a trial on the accusations against the sheriff next month.
Sheriff is being represented by high-profile legal team
The other side:
The sheriff's legal team wanted to put a pause on next week's removal hearing, approved by Measure A, to let the separate civil grand jury trial to play out first.
"What the last two years have been about is character assassination, nothing less," said Tom Perez, one of Corpus' attorneys. "The board of supervisors is the prosecutor, they’re making the rules, and they’re the judge, and the jury."
Perez is the newest member of Corpus' legal team, and he spoke to the board of supervisors on Tuesday, calling for a stop to the removal proceedings, which are scheduled for Monday.
Perez served as former US Secretary of Labor under President Obama, senior advisor to President Biden and former chairman of the DNC.
In addition to Perez, Corpus is represented by San Francisco attorneys Christopher Ulrich, James Lassart, Mariah Cooks, Matthew Frauenfeld, Thomas Mazzucco, Philip Kearney Jr., and Wai Shun Wilson Leung.
In a written statement from Leung, he said, "We're disappointed by the court's ruling but are focusing on vindicating the sheriff at her removal hearing next week."
Corpus has denied all wrongdoing.
Three previous requests from her legal team to stop the proceedings were denied.
"We’ve gone through this in terms of defending our process four times. Make no mistake about it, the federal court, the state court continues to agree," Canepa said.
Taxpayers paying for Corpus' defense
The county confirmed it is paying for the sheriff’s legal services.
"These are closed session items that I can’t discuss," said Canepa.
County officials said if the sheriff loses her fight, she will have to pay the county back for the legal expenses.
What's next:
The removal hearing is set to begin on Monday. From there, a recommendation will be given to the Board of Supervisors about how to move forward in her removal process.
Proceedings are expected to take 10 days.
County spokeswoman Effie Milionis Verducci said in a written statement, "The County looks forward to the presentation of evidence at the upcoming hearing and to receiving the hearing officer’s recommendation, which will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for consideration."
When asked how many taxpayer dollars are being spent on the sheriff's legal services, Verducci said the county’s contracts with outside counsel are considered privileged.