In the ongoing saga of San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus and her battle against removal from office, Superior Court Judge Nina Shapirshteyn has once again denied Corpus' request for a temporary restraining order. The ruling is another setback for the sheriff, who is fighting an effort to oust her, backed by a voter-approved county charter amendment. Measure A, which gained massive support with an 84 percent approval in March, grants the Board of Supervisors authority to fire an elected sheriff if they find cause.
Despite the recent court decision, Sheriff Corpus' attorney clarified that the sheriff is not stepping down. "She's not resigning," said the attorney, according to a KTVU interview. This is the second denial this month, reminding onlookers of an earlier effort by Corpus that a judge also rebuffed on June 9. According to the County of San Mateo, the judge had labeled that initial effort as "premature."
The unanimous decision by the Board of Supervisors to oust Sheriff Corpus follows allegations of misconduct, a claim she denies. Corpus maintains that the actions against her are politically motivated and that her rights to due process are being violated. As part of their duty, the board voted on Tuesday, which resulted in a 5-0 verdict to accept a recommendation to proceed with Corpus' removal from office.
The evidentiary body against Sheriff Corpus is substantial, based on an investigation that includes a report from a retired judge and an independent law firm's findings. With over 500 pages of evidence and 42 witness interviews, the accusations against Corpus range from abuse of power and corruption to obstructing an investigation. Even in the face of such incriminating evidence, Corpus told reporters she didn't do anything wrong, as mentioned in a KTVU report.
