Bay Area Sheriff Tries To Stop Removal Process, Judge Rejects Attempt

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — A judge rejected the sheriff’s request for a temporary restraining order Friday that would halt her removal from office, according to San Mateo County officials.

For the second time this month a San Mateo Superior Court Judge denied Sheriff’s Christina Corpus’ request for a restraining order after the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted to remove her.

Judge Nina Shapirshteyn ruled Friday that Corpus’ effort to delay the removal proceedings was not justified.

On June 9, another judge denied a similar request for a temporary restraining order and called it “premature.”

The supervisors voted 5-0 to remove Sheriff Corpus at their Tuesday meeting. This decision followed a pre-removal conference with Corpus, her counsel, and Chief Probation Officer John Keene.

Keene's attendance at the conference was part of the established removal procedures from last month. During the conference, Corpus addressed accusations outlined in a Notice of Intent to Remove. This notice, however, has not been publicly released due to Corpus's objection.

The board's action stems from an investigation that concluded the sheriff engaged in multiple acts of misconduct, findings reflected in the notice issued by the board. Corpus denies all accusations.

Under Measure A, a County Charter amendment passed by 84 percent of voters in March 2025, voters authorized the Board of Supervisors to develop and implement a process that required a four-fifths vote by the Board for today's decision to proceed.

The sheriff had five days to appeal the decision and request a full evidentiary hearing before a neutral hearing officer. This hearing must be completed within 60 days of the officer's selection. Corpus will be required to attend and provide testimony if called, unless dismissed by the hearing officer. The hearing officer then has 45 days to issue a written advisory opinion.

Valid until December 31, 2028, Measure A authorizes the Board to remove a sheriff with a four-fifths vote. Grounds for removal include cause, such as legal violations, duty neglect, fund misappropriation, document falsification, or obstruction of investigations. The board's outside counsel estimates these proceedings would take roughly four months.

On April 8, supervisors met to discuss the removal of the San Mateo sheriff, approving procedures on May 6.

Alfonso Estrada, outside counsel for the board, stated that the process upholds "fundamental fairness."

A report commissioned by Corpus on April 25 by Judge Burke Strunsky challenges the validity of Measure A and the Cordell report. According to Marshall Wilson, SMC communications officer, Corpus believes she is exempt from oversight.

Furthermore, a May 22 independent investigation by the Board of Supervisors dismissed Corpus's misconduct accusations against a County executive.