Scott Steiner (judge)

Scott A. Steiner is a Judge of the Orange County Superior Court in California, former Deputy District Attorney, and Adjunct Professor of California Evidence and Criminal Procedure at Chapman University School of Law.^[1] He is the son of former Orange County Supervisor, William Steiner.^[2]

Education and early career

Steiner graduated from the University of California, Irvine in 1996 with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science. He attended law school at the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, from which he graduated in 1999. Steiner grew up in a political family and says that his father, former Orange County supervisor William "Bill" Steiner, influenced his career choice.^[3]

In December 1999, Steiner began work as a Deputy District Attorney in the Orange County District Attorney's Office. In 2005, he was selected by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas to serve as head of the Hate Crime Unit of that Office.^[4] In 2008, Steiner was promoted to the Gang Unit. In that same year, he began teaching as an adjunct professor of California Evidence at Chapman Law School.^[5]

Public service

Steiner has been actively involved in supporting the Constitutional Rights Foundation. That organization undertakes an annual Mock Trial Competition amongst the nation's high schools. He has served on the Mock Trial Committee of CRF since 2003, and has served as a mock trial coach since 1999. Steiner has been on the Judicial Advisory Board of CRF-OC since taking office in January 2011. He has also served as presiding judge for the American Collegiate Moot Court Association, the American Mock Trial Association, the National Moot Court Competition, and the Thomas Tang Moot Court Competition.

Election to the Orange County Superior Court

On June 8, 2010, Steiner won election to the Orange County Superior Court of California.^[6] He was elected without opposition. He succeeded Judge Margaret Anderson, who endorsed him^[7] and supported his campaign efforts. Steiner began a six-year term on January 3, 2011.

Censure

In September 2014, Steiner was censured by the California Commission on Judicial Performance for engaging in sexual activity in his chambers on multiple occasions with two of his former law students and for failing to disqualify himself in a case involving a longtime friend.^[8]

Personal

Steiner married fellow University of California, Irvine alum, Caron Tam, and they have two children.^[9]

References