Judge Rules SF Ethics Commission Can View Video In Mirkarimi Case
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- A San Francisco judge ruled on Tuesday that a video of suspended Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi's wife can be shown at his Ethics Commission hearing.
Judge Garrett Wong ruled that Eliana Lopez does not have standing to try to keep police or the district attorney from giving a copy of the video to the city attorney and then the commission.
Mirkarimi was suspended by Mayor Ed Lee after pleading guilty to misdemeanor false imprisonment for a domestic dispute with Lopez on New Year's Eve.
KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:
The video, which was taken by a neighbor on January 1st, shows Lopez crying and pointing to a bruise on her arm.
Wong ordered the video to be shared with the commission and refused a request by Lopez's lawyer, Paula Canny, to keep the video from being distributed publicly.
In court on Tuesday, an irate Canny said she would appeal the decision, but Wong told her to stop talking and came close to finding her in contempt.
Outside of court, Canny said it's wrong to victimize Lopez again by releasing the tape.
"It is unbelievable. Needless to say, Judge Wong doesn't like me. That's obvious," said Canny. "I'm not going to state an opinion about what I think about him."
The ethics commission will decide how to use and show the video as it hears official misconduct charges against the suspended sheriff.
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