California Appellate Court Justice Conrad Rushing retired this week amid allegations of sexual harassment from lawyers and other staff who worked for the court.
The 80-year-old Rushing presided over the Sixth District Court of Appeal for 15 years. Before that, he was a Superior Court judge in Santa Clara County.
In a confidential summary, commissioned by the court last May and obtained by KQED, investigators found that Rushing made inappropriate sexual comments about female employees' appearance, attire and bodies.
Male colleagues reported that Rushing's office was quote “dysfunctional” due to the justice’s conduct. One former attorney in Rushing's office reported feeling remorseful that he did not speak up sooner.
Several former and current employees of the court shared stories with KQED, but asked not to be named, for fear Justice Rushing might use his power and influence to ruin their careers.