BY DAVE PRICE
Daily Post Editor
One of the rules in any courtroom is that you never use the door behind the judge’s bench. It’s meant only for the judge, court employees and sometimes prisoners from the jail. Occassionally, a judge will invite the lawyers to come into his or her chambers, but you don’t dare walk through the door without permission.
So it was surprising what happened last Tuesday (July 15) after San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus appeared for a hearing in her corruption case in Superior Court in Redwood City. Corpus and her entourage of lawyers and supporters exited through the judge’s door and into a non-public hallway meant for judges and court employees.
Corpus used the backdoor to avoid the news cameras in the public hallway outside of the front doors.
This gave the appearance that Corpus was getting special treatment as a defendant. The judge, Stephanie Garratt, was unhappy, to say the least. She had a frank conversation with Sheriff’s Capt. William Fogarty, who fired off an email to convey her thoughts to others in the Sheriff’s Office.
“She advised how angry and frustrated she is with the Undersheriff (Dan Perea) ordering Sgt. Chiu to move aside for the sheriff and her ‘entourage’ to talk by judge’s chambers,” Fogarty wrote. “She did not agree to that and was never approached. She would not and does not approve that moving forward.”
What if Corpus tries it again?
“If you, your staff or any sworn staff are given an order to allow the movement of the sheriff, undersheriff (or) attorneys representing her to walk behind the courtrooms by judges’ chambers, this is an unlawful order.”
I’d say Judge Garratt laid down the law.
I contacted the court administrator to see if Judge Garratt wanted to comment on this. Of course, that’s unlikely since judges don’t give interviews about active cases.
But the court administrator, Dan Radovich, sent me this statement: “The court does not, did not, and will not grant access to its courtrooms through non-public entryways and exits. Access to courtrooms through internal hallways is strictly limited to in-custody defendants.”
The lesson here is that the sheriff will be treated like any other defendant in court. No special treatment. She needs to check her privilege at the front door.
Editor Dave Price’s column appears on Mondays.
I was there, and thought it odd that the sheriff went out the judge’s door. The only cameras I saw when I left were outside the courthouse, not in the hallway. When I spoke with the reporter outside he was surprised her entire appearance lasted less than a minute, and that she was not coming out of the public entrance.
Sounds like Corpus’ previous exchange with Judge Garratt, from only February of this year, has completely slipped the Sheriff’s mind in her escape from the courtroom last week. In the February 7, 2025, Palo Alto Daly Post article, Staff Writer Amelia Biscardi informed readers that Judge Garratt’s security concerns email of December 13, 2024, explained to Corpus that, “It is absolutely unacceptable that a defendant, …, is allowed to walk around judges and staff unrestrained” in the hallways behind the courtrooms.
Of course in December 2024, Corpus herself was not a defendant. In the matter at hand on July 15, 2025, Corpus herself was the defendant with a great deal on her mind. It appears that despite recent, acknowledged advance notice from Judge Garratt, Corpus intentionally disregarded the Court’s directive and direction. The fact that the Honorable Judge Garratt did not immediately remand Corpus and her entourage into custody for Contempt of Court is a wonder.
Contempt of court generally refers to actions, or behaviors, that disrespect the authority or dignity of a court. Alternatively, it could be a violation of a lawful court order. Contempt is essentially a legal concept that allows courts to maintain order and ensure the proper administration of justice by addressing disobedience or disruptive behavior. Contempt can be classified as either civil or criminal, and penalties can range from fines to imprisonment. Corpus’ audacity is also a wonder.
Since the Sheriff HQ has moved out of the Hall of Justice (HOJ), maybe the Court needs to revoke Corpus and Perea card key access (electronic key) as they don’t have any need to be in Court non-public areas?
I really feel sorry for the employees of the Sheriff’s Office who have to endure the wrath of Corpus. How long before Sgt. Chiu is placed on administrative leave, wait that won’t be retaliation…
Glad I never worked for Corpus.
There’s no card key access between courtroom and back hallway. There’s a bailiff there to prevent unauthorized people from exiting the wrong door. They bullied the bailiff aside so they could be special.
Corpus is completely out of control! She is the DEFENDANT!! She should act accordingly!
Free Tapia, Free Fava, keep your head on a swivel Sargeant Chiu. Shot out to Philips, he’s a real one! My bottom bunk is open for Perea.
Just another example of this entitled, delusional wreck of a Sheriff.
Corpus does whatever she wants. Even a Superior Court Judge is hand-tied for some reason?? Read Fogerty’s memo…no one will block Corpus’s path, merely report the observation to a sheriff’s captain. Nonsense!!
The irony of it all is almost too much. This woman is going to trial for corruption and she…wait for it…still thinks the rules don’t apply to her. I’d say her legal team is off to a great start. To recap, they inadvertently posted all of their documents non-confidentially. Then, they think they can hustle their client out the back door of the courtroom without any repercussions. Welcome to San Mateo County Superior Court, Corpus legal team! Yes, the rules DO apply, even to the sheriff. Because, you know, she’s a defendant, no different than any other defendant.
How much more can the County of San Mateo put up with???
This needs to end and soon. What it is doing to the employees of the Sheriffs Department is a Joke!!! It is clear that the Sheriff cares for no one but herself. If she did, she would end this BS and resign. The Citizens of San Mateo County deserve better!!!
Like Ron, I was in the courtroom that morning, and thought Corpus and her entourage going out the back was at least surprising. I infer that the “Sgt. Chiu” mentioned in Capt. Fogarty’s memo is probably Deputy Sheriff Daniel B. Chiu. Thus, Undersheriff Perea in ordering him to stand aside was literally speaking as his direct job boss.
We can always hope to see responses like in those famous stories involving a private on guard duty correctly denying, pursuant to clear orders, a general access to a sensitive area, yet under the circumstances I cannot blame Deputy Sheriff Chiu. The real fault lies with Perea, Corpus, and her trio of alleged lawyers, who all absolutely knew better and ought to have been held in contempt over this.
I hope Judge McCannon is paying attention, and will yank these clowns’ choke collar, the next time they pull any illegal stunt of any kind.