Suspended Judge’s Bailiff Says Arditti Didn’t Spend Much Time In Her Office

It was another contentious start to the day in the trial of suspended District Court Judge Regina Arditti.

Arditti is facing nepotism and bribery charges. She is accused of hiring former Judge Manny Barraza’s sister in exchange for him hiring Arditti’s son.

Before the jury even entered the courtroom defense attorneys renewed their motion to disqualify the District Attorney’s Office from prosecuting the case.

“They called a known liar yesterday when they called David Biagas and that’s a violation of an agreement,” defense attorney Stuart Leeds said.

Visiting Judge Steven “Steve” Smith denied the motion.

The first witness of the day was Arditti’s bailiff, Pamela Fox, who told the jury Arditti hardly showed up to work.

Fox testified Arditti only spent about 12 hours a week in her office and that she often had to go to other judges to get documents signed because Arditti was not around.

Fox also talked about Arditti’s relationship with Sally Mena, Barraza’s sister and the woman Arditti is accused of illegally plotting to hire.

“Some days, Arditti thought Mena didn’t know what she was doing,” Fox said. “Aridtti was really short with Mena. She complained about the way she dressed for work and the way she talked, her speaking manner.”

Fox admitted she didn’t know of any nepotism or bribery agreement related to Arditti.

And admissions like that continue to be the source of rising tensions between the defense and the judge.

The defense has made numerous motions to dismiss witness testimony, arguing that many of the witnesses who have taken the stand do not know anything about the alleged bribery and nepotism charges Arditti is facing and that the witnesses are only testifying about hearsay. With the exception of one witness, the judge has refused to do so.

“The law is you keep both sides equal, but you keep changing the rules,” defense attorney Theresa Caballero told Smith.

Smith told Caballero, “I will rule as I continue to rule. You may be seated.”

Caballero loudly responded, “I’m not finished!” before taking her seat.

Most of the witnesses admitted they had never heard about any sort of illegal pact between Arditti and Barraza.

One witness told the jury that the culture of the courtroom is commonly perceived as a negative one.

Caballero asked witness Jose Salas, a former bailiff, “there’s a lot of gossip here? A lot of backstabbing? A lot of people spreading a smear campaign?”

“Oh, yes ma’am,” Salas responded.

Following that exchange, defense attorneys described this courthouse as “cesspool.”

A flurry of objections followed that comment.