Judge Censured for Ordering Lawyers to Be Paid by Retailer Gift Vouchers

California's Commission on Judicial Performance on Tuesday publicly censured Judge Brett Klein, who stepped down from the bench on Dec. 1, barring the 20-year veteran from future judicial assignments. The CJP dinged Klein for his handling of a class action against a clothing store chain and found that Klein had abused his authority when he altered the final approval order to make a $2,500 award to the lead plaintiff and $125,000 in fees to a plaintiffs lawyer payable in $10 gift vouchers from the retailer.