News Scrapbook 1986

Los Angeles, CA (LOS Angeles Co.} Lo Angeles Daily Journal (Cir. D. 20,433)

MAY 2 !J 1986

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1 , 4s' Bird, Death Penalty Key Muni Court Issues By HARRIET CHIANG 2 61 Victim rlfthUI, the death penally, and op- !)0411lon to 'hl f Ju:illce Bird are lead- Ing I u pu1 forth candidates competing lo Orange County' • four municipal court rac Candidates in Orange Co. Races Two Incumbents are fending off Chai· lenge from lawyer • who claim they are wa n t>.tU to guln more rlg.hlll for vlc- llm and h raher penaltie tor d lendantl. Open seat have ere led two relatively cor- dial th way rac In which the candl d te~· mal.n problem Ls how to make their voice heard abovr the crowd C Ida ' atron oppo • ttlon to the reten- Central Munlclp • 1Cour1 No.I Three Jawye:-s are competing for the aeat vacated by Judge Bobby Youngblood. Ja111e1 Broolla, 43, has been a deputy dis- trict attorney In Orange County for 13 years and la curreolly assigned to the major nar- cotics unit. Her elved ht • J .D. from South- western Unlvenilty School of Law 1n 1970 and then joined the Lo:. Angeles cl.ty attorney's office, where he pent a year worll.1ng In the criminal division. verslty of West Los Angeles Law School, where he graduated In 1972. Nor1hCounly Municipal Court No. 3 Three candidates are vying ror lbe seat created by the retirement of Judge Losan Moore. Richard Behn, 45, has been a commla-- sloner on the North Orange County Munici- pal Court s1nce July 1983. Behn was a baillff at North Court before attending Western State Unlverslly College or Law where he graduated In 1970. He matntained a private practice in Anaheim concentrallng on crimi- nal, personal lnJ lll')', and family law.

In Riverside County ror more than 10 years, Robblns says he has more trial experience than hla opponenta. In addition, he aays, "I don't think any- body bu a better 11:nOwledge of civil and criminal procedure In thla particular race," noting hla current ualgnmeot band.llna clilld • bducllon and welfare relmbunement casea. Robbins also regards hla worlr. In River- side - although he lives In Orange County - as an advantage In his campaign because "l' m not obllgated to any special In- terest group. I'm not peraonal friends wltb any of the criminal defelUle attomeya.'' He has received endorsemenlll from the CalUornla Republican Asaembly and the Riverside County Deputy Dlatrlct Attorneys Association. Robert Von Esch Jr. decided to enter the race because he felt there was juat too much time wasted ln court. "With the Increase in Jurl5dlcllorud amount In civil cases ln mu- nicipal court, Uie court should have more judges with a wlde background In civil mat- ters," he says. With 26 years in a general civil and crimi- nal practice, "I have a broader back- ground," Von Esch declares. He has received the endorsement of Re- publican stale Sena. John Seymour and Ed- ward Royce, both of Anaheim, as well u varloua mayors and councilmen. The Orange County Bar poll showed Behn receiving 146 vote& as highly qualified, 141 as qualified, 17 as not qualllled, and -473 as unknown . Robbins received six votes as highly qual- ified, 26 as qualified, 10 as not qualified, and 672 as unknown Von Esch was rated by 114 111 highly qual- ified, 167 as qualified, 30 as not quallfled, and

- "°''°' m u11! on1y comment she makes on the Issue ; she notes that the case, People v. Chapman , NS84060.'l2, Is now un- der submission before the Fourth District Court ot Appeal. Ellaa, who waa apoolnted to the bend! In Au,u • t. 1976 by then-Oov Edmund G. Brown Jr., lnalaU that Is running a "J)Ollltlve campaign" relyin& on her 30 years In prtvate practice and her 10 years on the bench. "Both defense atton1eys and prosecutors respect me, although U1ey say I'm tough," &he dedarea. "There's nobody more coMld- erate of vlclims than I am." But Bates charges Elias with ellmlnatl.ng a "marvelous deterrent" by declaring the roadblocks unconsUtutlona.l. "I thlnk those sobriety checkpolnta were a wonderful way lo cut down on the Incidence of drunk driving and cut It down before the people get In their cars." Bat.ea ha,s been staling his cause by walll.- lng preclntta 40 hours a week for the past~ months. Bates brings a different background to the judicial scene, having been an anchorman on tel vlalon 1tallons around Northern Call· fornla and Idaho before becoming an attor- ney In Santa Ana. " l think I have a sense or lalmess that I could bring to the court," he says. " I thlnll. l have the proper demeanor." Randall describes himself as a conserva• live who Is opposed to the retention ol Bird He ls relying oo hill 14 years ln civil and crtmlnal practice as well as his experience as a manager In the aerospace Industry He says ln his ballot statement that he wUI usure "that the will of the people as ex- pressed In the laws enunciated by our Legis- lature are carried out wlthoul pejudlce or sympathy." Moreover, he promises to en- sure "that the rights of victims and society are tall.en Into account while deallng fairly with accused peraollll and fully co111latent , _,,..g

~lt:;O I"" """•- n••--•• ~•-•D •••- •---•- for running. "I've been prosecuting these brutes down here In Orange County for 13 years, but I would like to be on the bend! sentencing them Instead of asking tor a cer• taln sentence.'' A IS-year veteran of the Oran e County District Attorney's office, Broolu view, the judgeship as an opportunity to worll. wllb judges he know • well. He cit.es falmeu and a re8ll0nable outlook as qualities that make him suitable for the job. Other credentials be stresses Include hla lengtby campaign to reinstate the death pen- ally - "I'm absolutely in favor of k.llllng killers. It Just needs to be expedited In a swift sure way," he says - and his strong opposition to Bird. "Her leadership ot this todrl system ls a shambles and we need llomeone up there to bring some respect ' ' Helping to spread Brooks' m ge Is attorney Bruce Bridgman, who has engi- neered several Judlclal campaigns In Orange County. Broou has received the endorsement of the Orange County Sheriffs Assoc:laUon, the county's chapter ol the National Women's Pollllcal Caucus, the Orange County Deputy District Attorneys ASliOClatlon, and several city pohce groups Nordby filed her candlda y papers after slle saw that "the only two people who were putting lhelr names In were people who nei- ther worked nor lived In tbe district of cen- tral municipal ." Nordby notes that she both llves and works in the community, quall.flcallons she claims are Important for the " people's court." A civil 11.tlgator ln Santa Ana, Nordby points out that her two opponents are both prosecutors "ll gets to a point where the ju- diciary ts going to be an extension or lhe dls- tr lct attorney'• office," she says . "Flrrneoesa In crime la good, but there's a

Diane Nordby, Zl, practices general civil llligalion wl.lh the Santa Ana llrm of Bank.a, Leviton & Or8.llll She received her law de- gree from W~nlveralty College of Lawin 1979. Paul Robbln , 45, has been a lawyer In the Long Beach City Attorney's office since 1973. He handl criminal misdemeanors, civil admlnl.stratlve cases, tox.lc and huardoua waste pollution, among other areas. A native of Boston, he received his law degree In 1973 from Southwestern University School of Law. North County Municipal Court No.2 Judge Beuy l':llH la being challeflied by attorneys James 811te1 and William Ran• dall EllH, 59, was appolt•ted In August 1976 to the bench by then-Go, . EdmlUld G. Brown Jr. A native of Shelton Neb , Elias received her law d gree In 1952 from the University of Nebrask& and then worked 2½ years In the leaal department of an Insurance company. In 1956, She Joined the Anaheim law firm ol Weaver, Jma • & Strlcll.lcn, concentrating on dom Uc relationa and bualnaa c a. Bate • , 41, ha practiced criminal and per- aooal ll\Jury law In Santa Ana !or six yeara and has maintained a solo practice !or the put year. He was an anchorman for tele- vlalon slallom; In Northern Callfornla and Boise, Idaho, before atteodlng Western State University College ol Law . He received his law degree In 1974 Randall , !i.l, hai. been a sole practitione r In the City of Orange for lhe 14 years, handling both criminal and civil matters. He was a mana1er In &ovemment contracts In the aerospace Industry before attending the Uni- difference between being firm and tunnel vision." Nordby Is relying on her slx yeara' experi- ence ,a a lawyer ln both civil and criminal law. At '¥1, says "I've done a lot In a abort period of time." Profesalona l a nd peraonal advancement prompted a ttorney Paul Robbins to run for the office Alter 12 yeara In the Long Beach City Attorney's olflce, Robblna alao uya be wanted to conUnue his public • ervtce, and he atreues the vast array of c- be currently bandlea, Including criminal proaecutlom, civil admlnl:1tratlve Jaw, toxic and baurd- 0111 wute pollution, and appeals of business license disputes Robbin , who also ran !or the Orange County hench In 1982, makeJ note.of his com- munity lies and aclJvlsm In victims rigbta groups, pointing out lhal he co-fOWlded lbe advisory board for the Orange County dlvl- lon of Mother Ag11ts,q1 Drunk Driven. Robbins , who describes hunself as "mod- erate to conservative," says he Intends to cast his ballot aga!nsl Bird becawie she Is " Incompetent both as an administrator and as a justice " He hab been endorsed by the California Republican A&sembly, the Orange County Coalition for Capital Puniahmenl, the Call- lomta Organlzatlon for Police and Sbertlfa, and other groups. The Orange County pleblsc:lte llhowed Brooll.ll received 84 votes bljbly quallfled, 134 votes as qualified, 34 votee u not qua!• I.fled, and 47C as unlulown. Nordby was rated by nine as highly qual- ified, 42 as qualified, 45 as not qualllled, and 630 as unlmown. Robbins received 16 votes as highly qual- ified, 32 as qualified, S4 aa not qualified, and &Ml as unknown. North Municipal Court No. 2 Judge Betty EIIH Is being challenged by attorneys James Bates and William Ran-- Bales la striving to unseat Elias from the Fullerton-baaed court becawie of a decision made last year In which she declared ao- "I held that based on the facts as 1 heard roadblocks were uncouatllu- Uonal," Elias says ln the only comment she makes on the ls:iue; she notes that the case, People Y ChapmllIJ , NS8406032, 18 now un• der submission before the Fourth District briety check points Illegal. them, the dall.

tion ot the chi f Justice renect.1 the aenU• m nta of Or n11e County, where poll • show a 4-lo-l ratio oppoled to Bird, accordln11 to oae polltlcaJ con,utt.ant. Harbor Municipal Court No . 1 The h at g nerated l.n the batUe betw n Incumbent Brun Carter and cball r R~rt Tiloma JJI easily overwhelm the rest of th relatively qui t r • cet !or the mu- nicipal court bench in Orange County Uus y r And the campaign for Ille • eat on lbe wport adl bench has become acrtmo- nloua III th two d bate who 18 lbe more coo- rvatlv . In r n to Thom 'a char that Car• ter la a "m dnl¥bl ppoln ee of Jerry 8rvwn," lh judge dedarea, "I bav been a con rv live R publican for 40 years." Hut ThomH alt11cll.s Carter's title aa • Re- publlc:an saying, " Although h applied to be a R publll' n, he leans more toward Jerry Brown U111n \Newport Beitch A&aemblyman) G,1LE.lq.ison or Ronald Reaaan." If not, Thomu conttn , Carter wu untruthful to Brown wh n he wa appointed In 1982. Thom s. a

Rofer Robbh11, 51, has been a deputy di •- lrlct attorney In Riverside County for over 10 yean. A native of Portland, Ore., he re- ceived his law degree from Western State University College of Law In 1W74 and went Into private practice for two years In Santa Ana handllng civil and criminal matters. Robert Voa Each Jr., 60, practlces clvll llt- lgation and criminal law ln Fullerton. Alter receiving his law degree from llGJ • Sd•oo• of Law ln.J956, he spent four years wtlh the Los Angeles County Counael'• oUlce before entering private practice. Harbor Mualclpal Court No. l lncwnbenl Brian Carter Is being oppoaed by Robert Tho H, a deputy dlalrtct atlor· ney Carter, 60, was appointed to the bench In December 1982 by then-Gov Edmund G. Brown Jr. alter 10 years in private practice representing yachtsmen, boat broken, and aailmall.en. He apent 12 yean working u a munitions projects manager !or Westing- house Corp. and Martin Aviation and then spent the next decade as lbe director of pat- ent Ucenslng for Rockwell Corp. In Anaheim. Carter received his law degree ln 1910 lrom ,Pepperdlne Un1 yenlty School of Lw. Thom- • , 38, baa been a deputy dlatrtct at- torney In Orange County for eight years. A native of Monterey, he graduated ln lffl from the School of Law and wu In the Marine Corpa until urn when be went Into private practlce. with their constitutional rights." Randall has been endorsed by the Califor- nia Republican Asaembly, ~ep Robert K Pornao R-Garden Grove, Assemblyman John Lewta, R-Oranae, and Citizens for Bet- ter Judges, among others In the Orange County Bar pleblctte, Elias received 189 votes aa lll&bly qualified, 250 votes as qualified, 132 aa not quallfled and 202 81 unknown. . Bates received nine votea III h1ah)y qual- ified, 74 as qua!Jfled, 63 u not qualified and 544 81 unknown. Randall was rated by four aa hlgbly qual- ified, 21 as qualified, as not qualified and 616 as unknown. North Municipal Court No. 3 The race for the second North County judgeship Is belt deacrlbed aa a friendly competition. Commlutoner Richard Benn declares that all the candidates running lor the seal on the Fullerton court are qualified, and prosecutor Roger Robbins calls his two opponents "very cordial." The only excitement was generated before the campaign, when Judge Logan Moore de- cided to delay hla retirement to enable Behn to run fc,r tbe politlon and thereby dl.sluade DeutmeJ~an from appointing someone~- Not ooly has Moore endonied Behn, the commlulonar poinU out, but all lbe Judges pre • ently on the eourt have expruaed tbe1r support. In addition, several police groupa, includ- ing the Anaheim Police OUlcera Auoclation and the Buena Park Police Officers Aaaocla- tlon, have come out In support of .setm. Behn • aya he'a nmning "because I'm doing the Job now," noting )hat among the duties of a commlsaloner la to rill In for Judges. The luue In the campaign, accord• Ing to Behn, II the huge volume of caaea awaiting trial, a problem that could be solved by ad

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San Diego, Ca lif. Southern Cross (Cir. W. 27,500) 1986

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UM law school graduates ar told~to move society forward ~?? By Veronica Garcia

told graduates they were "entering an imperfect pro- fession that needs the creativity of a new generation of

Graduates of the University of

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lawyers to serve the public interest."

San Diego Law School were challenged to bring new energy and ideas into the legal profession by speakers at the 1986 commencement ceremony May 24 in Torero Stadmm. Eleanor Holmes Norton, former head of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, told the 327 graduates that the world is moving toward a techno- logical society. "AMERICA REMAINS the greatest power on earth. If _we lose t~is, it will be in you r generation If we keep this... 1t will be because of your generation's efforts," said Holmes Norton who received an honorary doctor of law degree from the USD. Holmes Norton, a Georgetown University law professor, told graduates that their "generation suffered from invidious comparisons" to her gene ration, noting that this was "a forced fit because they're two different worlds. My generation needed answers. Your generat ion needs to raise new questions." "Your profession exerts enormous influence on the economy," she said. "There are over half-a-million lawy~rs in the United States today.. . . As lawyers multiply, we have to assume more responsibility." "IS LAW moving society forward... or is it holding it back?" she asked at the commencement attended by more than 1,000 guests Her generation, which came of age in the turbulent 1960s, sees the law as good, she said, citing civil rights and environmental protection laws as examples. ''Can you: generation of lawyers build a society that is both just and efficient?" Among legal items to be defined in the graduating class' generation are work, economy and the status of women, she told the 202 male and I25 female graduates. " NOTHING IS the same as it was before World War II. .. not the family, work, morality, or America and her place in the world," she said. ''Can your generation complete the tasks of economic and social justice that remain ... and build the economy?" she asked, adding that the graduates would have lo do this without the rhetoric or charismatic leaders present during the I 960s. Like Holmes Norton, law school Dean Sheldon Krantz

" I HOPE as you begin your careers you won 't be satisfied with just getting by," Krantz said . Bishop Leo T . Maher, board of trustees chairman for USD, told law school graduates that " the true pro- fessional will know how to stand above the ryran'!)' of time and to work with calm, spreading the truth which builds up, not the sensational, and putting firmly aside the ryranny of originality which atlributes value to what is worthless, whose sole claim to worth is that it attracts attention." ''The professional must tirelessly put forward the virtues, the truth illuminated by justice, peace, family values, the sacredness of life," Bishop Maher said . " THE PROFESSIONAL , being a person of integrity and trustworthiness, is a person of great faith in God and respect and love fo r all mankind ," the bishop said. During his valedictory address, Mark L. Pollot dis- cussed the meaning o f the law school experience. " However prepared we were intellectually, we never could have been prepared emotionally" for law school, he said . ' 'The legal profession requires one to examine all their ideals and values. Every belief we had was subject to intense scrutiny and challenge ," Pollot explained. A 35-YEAR-OLD former nu rse , Pollot said law school graduates will never again " take any idea just on faith , " but will subject all ideas to intense examination . None of the graduates is the same person as when he entered law school, he added. "Lawyers have a special responsibility," said Pollot , who will begin work in September with the U .S . Justice Department's civil rights division in Washington , D .C . This responsibility stems " from the position of power held by the voice lawyers have in society," not because "they are able to speak fo r the public," he said . Pollot offe red advice for all p ro fessionals. "Keep your perspecti ve. Remember who you are and where you're going." Of the 327 graduates, 283 received Juri s doctorate de,~rees, two earned masters of law degrees, 10 received masters _of comparauve law and 32 earned m asters of 1 / m taxauon . /

Court of Appeal

ho wa8 appointed to the bench ln

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