By Investigative Reporter, Linda Sutter – February 21, 2025

Robert Cochran received a public admonishment order concerning his bias and discourtesy toward a victim of domestic violence, by his conduct at a domestic violence restraining order hearing and a change plea hearing in a criminal matter.

Statement of Facts and reasons of this case state Judge Cochran faulted the victim for staying in an abusive relationship, called the victim “manipulative” on a number of occasions, and told the respondent that he had fallen into her “trap.” At the change of the plea hearing in the criminal matter, Judge Cochran denied the victim an opportunity to be heard and made demeaning comments to her, in violation of Marsy’s law.

But that was not the first clue Cochran gave to public members his bias toward women victims. Last year Board of Supervisor Valery Starkey held a luncheon for the domestic violence task force, where Cochran who was head of this task force was quoted stating, “they must like being beat up cause they keep going back.” When this was brought to the attention of Valerie Starkey she was upset that anything had been leaked out of the meeting as the meeting was supposed to be confidential, instead of being concerned about a biased judge. The Domestic Task Force meetings were so bad one person who was an employee of the Harrington House could no longer stomach the words that came out of Cochran’s mouth and quit the Harrington House.

The Judicial Commission found that Judge Cochran’s conduct at the domestic violence restraining order hearing (DVRO), reflected bias, embroilment, impatience, and discourtesy, and was a nature that could reasonably undermine public respect and confidence in the integrity of the judicial system.

The Commission concluded that, by Cochran repeatedly questioning the victim why she did not leave the relationship and stated to her she had a “problem” for staying in the relationship, Judge Cochran questioned the victims credibility and appeared to blame her for the abuse she suffered. Judge Cochran’s comments were, (“I do not understand why she would stay in a home—or in a relationship where someone is just beating the crap out of her all the time,” “[S]he’s got a problem,” “I’m not going to get you to admit you think you’ve got a problem,” “She liked being beat up,” “[Y]ou need to get some help” “you need to get some serious psychiatric treatment,” The list of statements go one and one as Cochran rambles while demeaning the victim.

The Commission additionally found that Judge Cochran conveyed the appearance of bias and embroilment by suggesting answers and arguments for the male defendant. The Public Admonishment is 23 pages long with full account of what transpired.

During the Discipline of Judge Cochran the Judicial commissioners found that Judge Cochran did not appear to fully appreciate the impropriety of his comments towards the victims. Commissioners Dr. Michael A Moodian; Honorable Lisa B Lench; Hon. William S. Dato; Hon. Michael B. Harper; Ms. Kay Cooperman Jue; Mr. Richard A. Long; Mani Sheik, Esq.; Mr. Gerald C. Shelton; and Ms. Beatriz E . Tapia voted to impose the public admonishment.