15 DOT COM AND ON OUR APP. >> RIGHT NOW, A W NEABC, 15 INVESTIGATION. THEY SAY JUSTICE IS BLIND WN HEIT COMES TO SEEING HOW ARIZONA INVESTIGATES AND DISCIPLINES JUDGES. SO IS THE PUBLIC WE ER EXPOSING YEARS OF BEHAVIOR BY A JUDGE AND HER STAFF. ALL IT IN FROM YOU. THERE'S NO WAY FOR THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THIS, CORRECT. A WHISTLEBLOWER TAKES US INSIDE A COURTROOM WITH CRUEL JOKE S,MOCKING MEMES CONCERNING CONFLICTS AND SOME THINGS THAT ARE JUST BIZARRE >> ALL IT'S THE ORDER WE ALL RECEIVE. WHEN A JUDGE ENTERS THE COURTROOM TO SHOW RESPECT AND HONOR. AND THAT'S WHY WE CALL THIS INVESTIGATION DIS HONORABLE BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO SHOW YOU HOW PEOPLE ONHE T OTHER SIDE OF THE BENCH WERE TREATED IN ONE JUDGE'S COURTROOM AND HOW THE SYSTEM FAILED TO HOLD HER ACCOUNTABLE. >> THAT JUE DGDECLINED TO SIT DOWN WITH ABC 15 CHIEF INVESTIGATOR DAVE BISCOBING. >> BUT TONIGHT THEY'VE GOT THE EVIDENCE AND A WARNING. IT'S VERY GRAPHIC AND CRUEL. >> THEIR EMAILS, MEMES AND JOKES, SOME RACIAL, HOMOPHOBIC SEE SOME SO COOL. IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THEY WERE SENT BETWEEN JUDGE UNDERSTAFF. EDIT ALL HAPPENED INSIDE THE MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURORTOM OF JUDGE AARON O'BRIEN. NOTICE THIS, OF COURSE, IS JUDGE OTIS. THIS IS HER BAILIFF BARBERSHOP, U.S. AND CLERK KELLIE SCHAEFER. YOU WORK FOR THE CLERK'S OFFICE FOR HOW LONG? >> I'M A LITTLE OVER 11 YEARS. HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS AN ERRANT? OTIS IS COURTROOM ALMOST BY LAST 2 YEARS. SHE FOR WAS AN EXPERIENCE CLERK. SHE TOOK THE JODI ARIAS MURDER TRIAL AND SHE WAS TRANSFERRED SAYS COURTROOM BECAUSE THE JUDGE BE TAKING ON DEA TH PENALTY CASES FOR THE FIRST TIME AT A PRETTY SMOOTH CAREER UNTIL YOU INCOURTROOM. KELLY MET ERA NOTICE BEFORE WE GET DEEP ERINTO WHY SHEEP ARE SITTING HERE. FIRST WE START WITH WHAT HAPPENED IN COURTROOM. YOU REMEMBER SCENES AND HOW OFF AND STUFF LIKE THIS GET SENT ALMO STDAILY. REALLY? YES, LIKE DURING THE HEARING IN JUST POP-UP, YES, WE HAVE TEAM MESSAGES FROM LATE 2017 TO 2018, THEN PULLED COURTROOM VIDEO TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON AS THEY WERE SENT. SO THERE'S THERE'S ONE IS GOING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY BECAUSE IT 'STHE WORST. IT'S GOTTEN SUBJECT LINES. Y HOUAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO OPEN YESTERDAY. HIGHLIGHTED HERE WH ITPOSTED IT CAME DURING THE JURY SELECTION IN SEPTEMBER 2017. THERE ANY JURORS WHO HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIO NSOR ILLNESSES. >> THAT WOULD MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO SIT THROUGH A TRIAL OF THIS MONEY. WE'RE CHANGING THE VOICE OF T HE WOMAN YOU'RE ABOUT TO OKAY. TALKING CREDIT. OKAY. IN THE COURTROOM, THE JUROR SAYS SHE HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT GIS HEVER UNCONTROLLABLE PERIODS. I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING TURN TENSION. I DID NOT. I DON'T WANT TO PUT IN SITUATION WHERE YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. THIS IS BAILIFF E-MAILS. THIS PHOTO ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE JURY LEAVES. WE BLURRED THE WORDT ATHE BOTTOM. IT'S THE F WORD. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE PUBLIC WOULD THINK IF THEY KNEW THIS WAS HAPPENING IN CASES, ITS BIGGEST, THEY'RE HANDLING. I WOULD HOPE THEY WOULD BE DISGUSTED BY G BI CASES. THEY MUST IMPOSE THE DEATH MURDERS IN DEATH PENALTY TRIALS LIKE THE STATE BE. JOHN ALLEN IS ONE OF MULTIPLE FAMILY MEMBERS CONVICTED OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AFR TETHEY PUT 10 YEAR-OLD ANY DEAL IN A FOOT LOCKER. HE HAD THE ONLY KEY IN DEBT THIS MOMENT IN TRIAL. THE BAILIFF EMAILS, A PAIR OF PHOTOS TO OTIS. >> COMPARING THE DEFENDANT AND HIS FAMILY TO CHARACTERS IN MOVIES. FIRST, CANNIBALS FROM THE HILLS. HAVE EYES THEN CHUCK E AB C,15 OBTAINED MANY EXAMPLES IN MANY CASE EX ASTRAY SAYS YE S.JUST COMPLETELY INSENSITIVE. ABSOLUTELY. YOU NAME IT TO BE CLEAR, BE THE BARBERSHOP IS INITIATED. MANY OF THE MOCKING EMAILS. >> BUT HERE'S ONE FOR SET BY JUDGE OTIS ABOUT A DEFENSE ATTORNEY SUBJECT LINE PANTS, QUOTE, NOT FOR TRIAL OR EVEN EVER FORCE AGAIN. EMAILS OR BAILIFF. A MINUTE LATER, YOU CAN SEE ALL THE CELLULITE ON HER. BUT THE BAILIFF THEN SENDS THIS PICTURE YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING AT. BUT WE ADDED THE BLACK X BOBECAUSE THE ORIGINAL IMAGE IS JUST TOO GRAPHIC FOR TV NEWS. WE'RE NOT GOING TO SHOW VIDEO OF THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY, BUT THIS TO SAYS EXPRESSION. MOMENTS AFTER THE OTPHOS E-MAILED JURORS DEFENDANTS, THEIR FAMILY'S ATTORNEYS, EVEN PRESIDING JUDGESAL, L TARGETS. NOBODY WAS OFF LIMI. TS >> AARON NOTICE WOULD EVEN SAY BECAUSE AT ONE POINT THEY TOOK THESE MEMES, THEY PRINTED THEM OUT. THEY LAMINATED THEM AND THEY HUNG THEM ON THE WALL IN THE DIVISION. SO WHEN YOU WALKED INTO THE JUDGE'S DIVISION, THERE WAS A WHOLE WALL MAKE A COLLAGE. ABSOLUTELY. LIKE IT WAS A COLLAGE ON THE WALL AND THEN FINALLY THE COURT REPORTER WENT OUT AND A LITTLE PHOTO ALBUM BUCK, AND WE'RE LIKE, PLEASE TAKE THEM OFF THE WALL AND PUT HIM IN YOUR HATE BOOK. SO THEY DID THAT. THEY HAD A HATE BOOK. HATE BOOK A HATE BOOK. WHAT THEY CALLED IT. THAT'S WHAT I CALL THAT OKAY. BUT I ME, ANWHAT ELSE CAN YOU CALL? IN A LENGT HYSTATEMENT, OTIS ABSOLUTELY REFUTED THE CLAIMS ABOUT AN ALBUM OF MEANS AND EMAILS IN S DEFOR SCHAFFER. >> WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST ASK FOR A THEY SAID IF I WANTED TO LEAVE, THEY WERE GOING TO TELL HER IT WAS AT MY REQUEST. I WAS AFRAID OF HER. I HAD A GREAT CAREER THERE IN EARLY 2019 AFTER ALMOST 2 YEARS, SHE FOR FINALLY SPILLED EVERYTHING TO HER BOSSES IN WRITING, IT FORCED THE CLERK'S OFFICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE ARIZONA COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT, WHICH OVERSEES AND INVESTIGATES JUDGES. THE COMPLAINT INCLUDED INFO ABOUT THE SAME MEANS AND EMAILS. PLUS OTHER ALLEGATIONS MANIPULATING JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW S, INAPPROPRIATE CONVERSATIONS AND INTERACTIONS WITH DEFENDANTS LIKE CLEARING THE COURTROOM TO THROW A BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR THE SON OF A 6 TIME CONVICTED FELON BEFORE SENTENCING HIM. THE PARTY HAD CUPCAKES AND BUBBLES AND WE DUG A VIDEO TO IS THERE ANY POINT WE LOOK BACK ON IT? YOU JUST GO. OH, MY GOD. LIKE I I CAN'T BELIEVE LIKE I S ATIN THERE TO ALL OF THIS EVERY DAY AND I'M ASHAMED OF MYSELF FOR NOT COMING FORWARD SOONER. >> I LIVE WITH THAT EVERY DAY. YOU FEEL GOOD FOR TH. ISI ALWAYS TELL MY KIDS IF YOU WATCH SOMEBODY BULLIED AND YOU DO NOTHING BADS ANOW LET EXPERTS TOLD US THE EVIDENCE WE JUST SHOWED YOU IS UNLIKE ANYTHING THEY'VE SEEN. ONE CALLED IT ASTONISHING AND HORRIFIC FOR A JUDGE IN LIFE AND DEATH CASES. >> ANOTHER CALLED IT CHILDH IS HIGH SCHOOL BEHAVIOR THAT UNDERMINES THE PUBLIC TRUST THE WORLD SIDE WHERE T HE COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL CONDUCT MEATS AND YOU MIGHT ASSUME THAT THEY DISCIPLINED OT. IS AFTER 2 YEARS, THEY DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT. WHY? WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY. THE RECORDS ARE NOT PUBLIC. THEY DON'T HAVE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND THEY DECLINED TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY MORE INFORMATION IN THIS DEORR. THE ONLY PUBLIC DOCUMENT OUTLINING THEIR DECISION. IT'S S THE COMMISSION FOUND NO CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT THE JUDGE HAD INITIATED ANY MEANS. THE COMMISSION CONSIDERED THE JUDGES REMORSE AND THEY WARNED HER ABOUT APPROPRIATELY SUPERVISING HER JUDICIAL STAFF, INCLUDING EMPLOYEES USE OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS. AND THAT'S ALMOST PASSIVE. IT'S LIKE SHE DIDN'T 6. SHE DIDN'T PARTICIPATE, BUT SHE DI D IT 100%. SHE DID. >> THERE WERE SO MANY TIMES THAT SHE WOULD EVEN SAY TO HER BAILIFF THAT NEEDS A MEME THAT DESERVES A MEAN THE COMMISSION'S ORDER DOES NOT ADDRESS THE OTHER ALLEGATIONS AND BECAUSE THEY DISMISSED THE CASE THEY REMOVED JUDGE ORDERS HIS NAME FROM THE FINAL PUBLIC FINDINGS. IF YOU READ THROUGH THIS, I HAVE. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT TH? ISNO ONE WOULD HAVE ANY IDEA WHO IT WAS OR WHAT THIS IS OR WHAT IT PERTAINS TO WHAT EVEN HAPPENED FAR. BUT CHAVEZ STILL WORKS FOR THE COURT. AS FOR OTIS, SHE JOINED THE BENCH IN 2000, 12 BUT RESIGNED IN 2020. S HE LEFT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE JUDICIAL INVESTIGATION TO WORK AT THE MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE E-MAIL SHOW COUNTY ATTORNEY ALLISTER ADEL WAS INVOLVED IN RECRUITING OTIS. >> SHE'S NO HIGH LEVEL PROSECUTOR IN THE CAPITAL CASE DIVISION. THE UNIT THAT HANDLES MURDER IN DEATH PENALTY CASES. THAT'S THE OTHER THG INSHE NOW IS ON A CAPITAL CASE LOAD. SO SHE IS PROSECUTING PEOPLE TOO, PUT THEM TO DEATH. I REALLY FL EE THAT THOSE PROSECUTORS NEED TO BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST STANDARD AND SHE'S T HEMOST UNETHICAL PERSON I'VE EVER KNOWN. YOU THINK SHE'S BEEN HE LDACCOUNTABLE? KNOW? >> THE AREA NOTICED DECLINED TO SIT DOWN WITH YOU FOR AN INTERVIEW. BUT WHAT ELSE DID SHE SAY IN THAT LONG STATEMENT? SHE BEGAN BY SAYING SHE ALWAYS TRIES TO ACT WITH INTEGRITY. AND THEN SHE ADDED THAT THIS WAS JUST A VERY BRIEF AND LIMITED EXAMPLE OF HER TIME AS A JUDGE. BUT REMEMBER, WE SHOW THOSE E-MAILS WERESE NT OVER AT LEAST A YEAR AND A HALF PERIOD. AND NOW HERE'S A KEY PARTF OHER STATEMENT. IN RETROSPECT, THE SITUATION RELATED TO THE E-MAILS AND OR MEANS OVER EMAIL SHOULD HAVE BEEN DISCOURAGED AND STOPPED. I ADMIT THAT I DID NOT HANDLE THAT IN THE BEST WAY OF TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I'VE ALSO TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING I SAID OVER EMAIL THAT LACKED PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES. OTIS ALSO EMPHASIZED MULTIPLE TIMES THE JUDICIAL COMMISSION DISMISSED THE COMPLAINT AGAINST HER. SO WHAT'S NEXT IN THE INVESTIGATION WILL S EE THERE'S A LOT MORE. WE STILL NEED TO SHOW AND TO KNOW IN ALL OF THIS, WE'RE GOING TO DIG EPDEER INTO THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY WITH THESE JUDICIAL INVESTIGATIONS. WE'RE O ING TO LOOK AT HOW AND WHEN THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE HIRED OTIS AND ON MONDAY, WE'RE GOING TO AIR A REPORT ABOUT THAT BIRTHDAY PARTY AND ALLEGATIONS OF OTHER INAPPROPRIATE CONTACT WITH DEFENDANTS. THANKS SO MUCH, DAVE. YOU CAN
