California Judge Who Ran Red Light, Tried To Have Ticket Dismissed Censured

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - California's Commission on Judicial Performance has imposed a severe public censure on a Santa Cruz County judge who ran a red light then tried to have the ticket dismissed.

The commission said in a statement Monday that Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Ariadne J. Symons' traffic violation came after a history of disciplinary issues that were aggravating factors in its decision.

The commission said after Symons was caught on camera driving through a red light, a ticket was sent to her husband because the car was registered to him. The judge helped her husband try to get the ticket dismissed, never identifying herself as the driver, it said.

Symons said in a statement she accepts the commission's findings and believes the process will make her a better judge.