The former executive officer of Sonoma County Superior Court is suing the state court system and Sonoma County’s presiding judge. Arlene Junior, who left in May, alleges that she faced workplace discrimination due to her race and was forced out for reporting improper and racist behavior by court employees. She says Judge Shelly Averill fired her after a disagreement over a staffing request made by another judge. Junior says her rights were violated under the First Amendment, the Fair Employment and Housing Act, the California Labor Code and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Judge Averill responded with a statement calling the suit “unfortunate” while denying allegations.