Q: There are a lot of people on the ballot hoping to become a Superior Court judge. Can anyone run, even against a judge who was already appointed by the governor?
B.L., Long Beach
A: In order to run as a candidate for California Superior Court judgeship, you must have been an attorney admitted to practice law here for 10 years or have served as a judge of a court of record in the state for at least 10 years. So, not just anyone can run.
Superior Court judges typically are appointed by the governor and the appointment process is quite detailed. Every six years, however, Superior Court judges are subject to reelection. If there is no challenger, then the judge’s name will not appear on the ballot, but his or her name will if someone is seeking to unseat the judge.
It may be surprising to read that in some instances, a contested Superior Court election can be very expensive (into the hundreds of thousands of dollars). The costs may include a consultant, treasurer, preparation and dissemination of signs, social media, advertisements and fundraisers.
Q: I want to vote for the best candidate, but with regard to judges, I know little to nothing about these candidates. Is there any informational source that would help?
P.G., Pasadena
A: The Superior Courts are in a specific county (such as Los Angeles and Orange). The bar association in each county publishes ratings of judicial candidates (for example, qualified, not qualified, exceptionally well qualified), which you can find online.
Also, your local newspaper might have recommendations. Another source is the internet. Judicial candidates, for example, often have a website you can review to learn more about that particular person. The ballot should have a brief description of each candidate’s background (whether the candidate the incumbent, or serve as a district attorney, public defender or civil attorney).
I also found a helpful article online that addresses what a Superior Court judge does, what should be considered in a candidate, and information about current candidates, including endorsements; in your web browser, type “LA Superior Court judge, who’s running and why it matters.”
Ron Sokol has been a practicing attorney for over 35 years, and has also served many times as a judge pro tem, mediator, and arbitrator. It is important to keep in mind that this column presents a summary of the law, and is not to be treated or considered legal advice, let alone a substitute for actual consultation with a qualified professional.
Source: Orange County Register
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