An adjudication panel took a major step toward firing the D.C. judge who sued a dry cleaners for $54 million Monday, citing “global” concerns that Roy Pearson’s lawsuit has discredited the District’s judiciary.

In a letter to be sent to administrative law judge Roy Pearson and his boss District of Columbia Chief Administrative Judge Tyrone T. Butler, the five-person commission enumerated its doubts about reappointing Pearson to a 10-year term on the bench.