In re Brooks

This disciplinary action concerns the level of discipline to impose on James L. Brooks for violating Standard 66 of State Bar Rule 4-102 (D). Brooks requests a six months’ suspension from the practice of law; the State Bar seeks disbarment. Rejecting both recommendations, we suspend Brooks from the practice of law for three years.

Brooks, a former superior court judge, pled nolo contendere to six counts of sexual battery and four counts of simple battery based on incidents that occurred while he served as judge. We previously held that the misdemeanor offense of sexual battery, as defined by…