Council demands judge's resignation or restriction of duty

The Chino City Council has demanded San Bernardino Superior Court Judge Cara D. Hutson resign or be barred from hearing criminal cases following the shooting death of a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy.

At its Feb. 7 meeting, the council approved sending letters to state and county officials outlining its concerns about Hutson, who lowered the bail of the threetime felon who shot and killed Deputy Isaiah Cordero on Dec. 29.

The council joins others who have called for Hutson’s resignation — including Riverside County

Sheriff Chad Bianco and Cordero’s mother — in the wake of the deputy’s death.

The letters, sent to San Bernardino Superior Court Presiding Judge R. Glenn Yabuno, state Sen. Susan Rubio and Assemblymember Freddie Rodriguez, allege that Hutson “has demonstrated through her reckless judicial rulings that she is a threat to the safety of our community.”

Chino Mayor Eunice Ulloa wrote the letters and presented them to the council, which approved them unanimously.

At issue is Hutson’s decision to lower bail for William Shae McKay in November 2021, following his conviction on his third felony strike for charges of kidnapping and robbery, who had a warrant for his arrest when Cordero stopped him in a routine traffic stop. Officials say McKay shot Cordero four times, then died after he was shot by law enforcement officers at the end of a pursuit. Cordero was pronounced dead at Riverside Community Hospital later the same day.

“Given the circumstances surrounding the tragic death of Deputy Cordero, we believe that Judge Hutson should have known the risk in granting bail to this individual,” Ulloa said in a Monday email.

Hutson’s decision showed a “lack of discernment” necessary for a judge to preside over criminal matters, Ulloa continued. If Hutson won’t resign, the mayor said, the council would like Yabuno to reassign her to noncriminal cases.

“The Chino City Council not only supports the Chino Police Department, but all law enforcement agencies across the State of California, and with our neighbor, Riverside County, having experienced these tragic events in a span of a little more than two weeks, we felt compelled to speak on this issue,” Ulloa wrote. “With regard to our connection to the San Bernardino County Superior Court, Chino is situated in San Bernardino County so this matter is certainly of concern to our community and this Council.”

In an email Tuesday, the San Bernardino Superior Court declined to respond to the council’s demands.

“The court does not have a position on the council’s action taken last Tuesday,” spokesperson Julie Van Hook wrote. “However, neither the presiding judge nor any (other) judge has authority to review, alter, or modify rulings or decisions of another judicial officer.”

Meanwhile, the council has also submitted a letter of condolence and support to Riverside County set to be read at a future Riverside County Board of Supervisors meeting.