S. Diego Deputies Push Bird Resignation Drive

San Diego County Sheriff John Duffy, a political foe of California Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird, is permitting his on-duty deputies to pass out postcards urging Bird to resign, it was disclosed Friday.

The cards, part of a statewide drive urging Californians to ask the chief justice to step down, will also be available at sheriff’s substations throughout San Diego County.

The cards are being distributed by “Crime Victims for Court Reform,” a statewide group gearing up to campaign against Bird and Associate Justices Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin, all of whom are up for reelection in November, 1986.

Duffy is a charter member of the group, which is based in Los Angeles and directed by Bill Roberts, who managed George Deukmejian’s campaign for governor. Deukmejian has been harshly critical of Bird and the high court’s decisions on the death penalty.

An ‘Educational’ Act

Duffy considers distribution of the cards to be an “educational” rather than a political act, a spokesman said Friday, and hence the act does not violate a policy forbidding participation in political campaigns by county employees during working hours.

The cards do not advocate the recall of Bird or urge opposition to her reelection. Addressed to the chief justice’s San Francisco office, the cards say that Bird has “hurt our entire judicial system . . . crippled law enforcement . . . and decided cases in favor of criminals over victims.”

Lt. John Tenwolde, the spokesman, said the postcards will be distributed beginning next week. In addition, Tenwolde said, deputies who are on duty will be allowed to hand out the cards to the public upon request.

Jim Gordon, program coordinator for the American Civil Liberties Union here, said the group’s attorney believes that distribution of the cards by on-duty deputies is illegal. The ACLU policy-making board will meet soon to evaluate whether Duffy and the county should be sued for permitting the activity, Gordon said.

Hadn’t Discussed Matter

Leon Williams, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, said late Friday that he had not discussed the situation with Duffy. “It would not be legitimate for any county employee to conduct a campaign for or against anything on county time,” Williams said. “And I would want to look into the implications of the use of employee time for the distribution of the cards.”

Tony Albers, chief deputy in the county counsel’s office, would not comment. “We may have to defend the county or the sheriff in a lawsuit over this, so I can’t comment,” he said. “I’m sure the issue will be raised next week.”