San Mateo: Lawyer passed drugs to inmate

Attorney Erika Jordening, 43, of Pacifica. Attorney Erika Jordening, 43, of Pacifica. Photo: San Mateo County SheriffÕs Offic Photo: San Mateo County SheriffÕs Offic Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close San Mateo: Lawyer passed drugs to inmate 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

(08-23) 09:12 PDT REDWOOD CITY -- An attorney was arrested for allegedly smuggling drugs to an inmate at the San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City, authorities said Wednesday.

Erika Jordening, 43, of Pacifica passed an unspecified drug in pill form to Aaron Rauls, 43, at the Maguire Correctional Facility on Bradford Street on Tuesday, said San Mateo County sheriff's Lt. Larry Schumaker.

The alleged transaction occurred during a confidential attorney-client meeting, Schumaker said.

Jordening was booked at the Women's Correctional Center in Redwood City on suspicion of conspiracy and bringing contraband into a jail facility. She remained jailed Wednesday in lieu of $70,000 bail.

Rauls is being held in lieu of $35,000 bail on the same counts. He was in jail on another drug charge.

Jordening was admitted to the California State Bar in 1996. In 2004, she received a public reprimand by the State Bar Court for failing to finalize a client's divorce for more than three years, and the woman was unable to remarry during that time, records show. Jordening promised to attend the State Bar Ethics School.