Judge 'screws' himself

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters): California's Commission on Judicial Performance admonished a superior court judge for calling a lawyer "chicken" and sending an e-mail saying he intended to "screw" a litigant.

The language used by Judge Gregory Caskey, who handled juvenile cases at the Shasta County Superior Court, showed inappropriate bias, a joking attitude and neglect for the dignity of the court, the commission said.

It said Caskey, in an e-mail to a lawyer appearing in a case before his court last November, wrote that he was inclined to deny a hearing requested by attorneys representing the father in a custody case.

"I say screw (the father) and let's cut (the attorney) off without a hearing. O.K.? By the way, this message will self- destruct in five seconds..." the e-mail said.

When the recipient of the message wrote back that he was uncomfortable responding, the judge sent back a one-word reply: "Chicken."