Free Republic

WASHINGTON – The House has voted to admonish Rep. Joe Wilson over his "You lie" outburst to President Barack Obama during the president's health care speech to Congress last week. The 240-179 vote on the resolution of disapproval reflected the sharp partisan divide over the issue. Democrats insisted that the South Carolina Republican take responsibility for what they said was a serious breach of decorum. Republicans characterized the vote as a political stunt.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) - An Orange County judge was publicly admonished Tuesday for allegedly having his clerk and bailiff help run two rental properties. Judge John M. Watson sold the properties in La Habra and Whittier last year, according to the Commission on Judicial Performance. The misconduct took place between 2000 and 2004, according to the commission. "A judge may not use his or her office, staff or public property and/or resources under the judge's control for personal, non-governmental purposes," the commission said in a statement. A public admonishment is a step below public censure. Watson declined comment, saying...

Kern County Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Gildner, the court's former presiding judge, was given a rare public admonishment by the California Commission on Judicial Performance Wednesday for throwing defendants in jail without just cause and pressuring other defendants to take plea deals. The commission found that Gildner issued warrants and took three people into custody without cause because they did not show up in court when he thought they should. Two incidents happened in 2001 and one in 2003. The commission wrote Gildner had no reason to believe two of the men were notified they should show up in...