Philip testified that he was ordered to arrest Carlos Tapia, the president of the San Mateo County Deputy Sheriff's Association union and an outspoken critic of the sheriff, without a warrant. Corpus directed the arrest, citing suspicion of timecard fraud.

On the first two days of the hearing, attorneys for the county, represented by San Francisco law firm Keker, Van Nest, & Peters, sought to portray Corpus as a vindictive leader who retaliated against critics and blurred lines between her professional duties and personal relationships.