San Mateo County supervisors remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from office

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Oct. 14 to remove Sheriff Christina Corpus from office, concluding by a preponderance of the evidence that she committed multiple acts that constitute cause for removal under Section 4.12.5 of the San Mateo County Charter.

The vote followed the board’s independent review of a 42‑page advisory opinion by retired Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge James Emerson and the administrative record from a 10‑day appeal hearing. County Attorney John Niblin told the board that the hearing officer’s opinion and the administrative record supported four independent causes for removal, including a conflict of interest involving a close personal relationship with a subordinate and retaliation against deputies, including an arrest the hearing officer found lacked probable cause.

Judge Emerson’s advisory opinion was issued Oct. 6 and became part of the administrative record the board reviewed. Niblin summarized the hearing record to the board: Judge Emerson presided over a 10‑day hearing during which 36 witnesses testified and 174 exhibits were admitted. Niblin said the board received portions of the administrative record on Sept. 11 and the remainder of materials on Oct. 2.

The resolution the board adopted declares that the board "adopts as its own the rationale of the hearing officer" and…