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California panel removes Los Angeles judge Robert Draper over misconduct

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Coverage spectrum

Covered by 4 outlets, all right-leaning.

6 articles in total. The spectrum counts each outlet once and leaves opinion out. How we measure bias

Neoclassical courthouse facade with columns, large doors, seals, and American flags, with two small figures.
Image via Just the NewsHow images are chosenReport this image

New York Post, The Western Journal and The Center Square report that the California Commission on Judicial Performance ordered the removal of Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert Draper, 84, on Tuesday. The commission's 87-page decision cites nine instances of willful misconduct, eight of prejudicial misconduct and one of improper action. The Post reports that the findings include an unsolicited discussion of race at a February 2023 hearing and sexually explicit comments to female attorneys. The commission said Draper persistently violated the standards governing judicial behavior. The Center Square reports that Draper has denied the allegations.

Headline and summary written by Mantle’s AI from the coverage below, under published rules. Editors read every story. How this works

What happened

Key points

Each point shows who reports it, from Far Left to Far Right.

  1. The California Commission on Judicial Performance ordered the removal of Judge Robert Draper, 84, on Tuesday.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2Far Right2See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    New York Post, The Center Square
    Far Right
    The Western Journal, Just the News

  2. The commission's decision identified nine instances of willful misconduct, eight of prejudicial misconduct and one of improper action.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    New York Post, The Center Square
    Far Right
    Just the News

  3. The commission said Draper persistently violated the standards governing judicial behavior.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight2Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    New York Post, The Center Square
    Far Right
    Just the News

  4. Among the incidents was unsolicited discussion of race at a February 2023 hearing in a sexual harassment lawsuit, according to the commission's findings as reported.

    One outletNew York Post· Right

  5. Draper has denied the allegations, according to news reports cited by The Center Square.

    One side only: the rightReported byRight1Far Right1See the outletsHide the outlets
    Right
    The Center Square
    Far Right
    Just the News

What is contested

Where accounts differ

Questions the coverage answers differently, and who says what.

  • Did Judge Robert Draper commit the misconduct the commission found?

    The commission found nine willful and eight prejudicial acts of misconduct. According to news reports cited by The Center Square, Draper has denied the allegations and claims the charges were politically motivated.

How each side tells it

Compare views

All right-side outlets report that the California commission removed Judge Robert Draper for misconduct including racial and sexual remarks. Headlines differ in emphasis: the Post highlights vile racial rants and sexual comments, The Western Journal stresses the judge's appointing Democratic governor, and The Center Square labels the conduct alleged.

  • the left

    No coverage yet

    No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

  • the center

    No coverage yet

    No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

  • the right

    4 outlets

    Headlines lead with the removal; the Post stresses racial rants and sexual comments, while the far-right Western Journal adds the appointing Democratic governor and calls the remarks racist and sexist.

    Top California judge’s naked email exposed after he went on Sensational language“vile racial rants”The word vile adds moral condemnation beyond the reported remarks, which the commission described as racially charged comments.More neutral: racial remarksDisagree with this highlight? — and the Sensational language“unbelievable”The word unbelievable is an editorial reaction that manufactures surprise rather than describing the comment.More neutral: sexual commentDisagree with this highlight? sexual comment he made about secretaries
    New York PostRightAll right-leaning headlines

The words they chose

Language to notice

Words that carry a judgement beyond the facts. Tap a highlighted word anywhere on the page to see why.

  • Left

    Has not covered this story.

  • Center

    Has not covered this story.

  • Right4

    Racist, Sexist Commentsdisturbingvile racial rantsunbelievable

In the outlets’ own words

  • Loaded modifier

    Racist, Sexist CommentsMore neutral: Comments About Race and Gender

    The commission's findings describe inappropriate racial and sexual comments, and the headline labels the judge's remarks and character more strongly than those findings do.

    CA Gov Removed from Bench Over Racist, Sexist Comments

    Used byThe Western Journal (Far Right)

  • Sensational language

    disturbingMore neutral: serious

    The word disturbing is an editorial judgement of the allegations rather than a description of them.

    …County Superior Court judge has been removed from office following a string of disturbing misconduct allegations.

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    vile racial rantsMore neutral: racial remarks

    The word vile adds moral condemnation beyond the reported remarks, which the commission described as racially charged comments.

    Top California judge’s naked email exposed after he went on vile racial rants — and the unbelievable sexual comment he made about secretaries

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

  • Sensational language

    unbelievableMore neutral: sexual comment

    The word unbelievable is an editorial reaction that manufactures surprise rather than describing the comment.

    …judge’s naked email exposed after he went on vile racial rants — and the unbelievable sexual comment he made about secretaries

    Used byNew York Post (Right)

See the full language guide

See for yourself

Side by side

What each side leads with and what it leaves out. Open a side to read its headlines.

From the left

0 outlets

No left-leaning outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the center

0 outlets

No center outlet that Mantle follows has covered this story yet. That absence is part of the picture.

From the right

4 outlets

Leads with

  • racial and sexual remarks
  • judge's misconduct record
  • Democratic governor who appointed him
  • commission's removal order
See the 4 headlines from the rightHide the headlines

The stories you read build My Mix, a private picture of which sides cover the stories you choose, kept on this device. What is My Mix?

The left is Far Left and Left together. The right is Right and Far Right together. Every outlet keeps its own five-point rating.

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