San Mateo County moves forward with August 18 hearing in sheriff removal case
San Mateo County, California – U.S. District Court Judge Vince Chhabria has turned down San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus’s most recent attempt to stop a scheduled removal appeal hearing. This means that the hearing can now occur on August 18.
Judge Chhabria turned down Corpus’s request to stop or delay the process on Wednesday. He said he didn’t think her concerns about constitutional issues would work. He said that the court would not get involved in “an ongoing local government process” even if she brought up “serious questions.” His decision makes sure that the Measure A framework that voters approved proceeds forward as planned.
County officials quickly welcomed the decision.
“The County of San Mateo reaffirms its full commitment to upholding the integrity of this process, which was established to promote transparency, accountability, and responsiveness in local governance. We are confident in the fairness and structure of the Measure A framework; it reflects the will of the voters and ensures that all proceedings are conducted with the utmost integrity,” said County spokeswoman Effie Milionis Verducci.
“The County looks forward to the presentation of evidence at the upcoming hearing and to receiving the hearing officer’s recommendation, which will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors for consideration.”
The Hall of Justice in Redwood City will host the hearing on Monday, August 18, at 9:00 a.m. An impartial officer, retired Judge James Emerson, has been chosen to monitor the 10-day procedure, which is set to end on August 29. Courtroom 2M will host the proceedings, and members of the public and media will only be able to attend in person on a first-come, first-served basis. There won’t be any remote options, and taking pictures or recording is not allowed.
Read also: San Mateo court ruling clears path for supervisors to continue sheriff’s ouster proceedings
There are a number of complaints against Corpus that led to the Measure A process. These include claims that she abused her power, gave a close friend an executive position without the right qualifications, and created a culture of retaliation at work. The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on June 24 to press forward with removal procedures because of these accusations.
Measure A, a change to the County Charter that voters overwhelmingly approved in March 2025, gives the ability to pursue removal. The change granted the Board of Supervisors the power to start the removal process if they think a sheriff has done anything wrong. Grounds for removal include violating laws tied to official duties, repeated neglect of duty, misappropriation of public funds, falsification of official documents, or obstructing investigations.
After the hearing, Judge Emerson will have 45 days to send the Board of Supervisors a written report with the facts and a suggestion on whether there is enough reason to fire Sheriff Corpus. After that, the Board will make the final decision.
The case has already gotten a lot of attention from the public, both because of how serious the claims are and because the Measure A framework is being tested for the first time. The court’s most recent decision has put all the focus on the facts and testimony that will be heard later this month.
