Van de Kamp Lashes Out at ‘Meanness’ in Efforts to Unseat High Court Justices

State Atty. Gen. John Van de Kamp lashed out Wednesday at efforts to influence the 1986 confirmation elections of five Supreme Court justices, saying the debate has turned into one of “virulence and meanness.”

Speaking to a group of newspaper executives at a California Newspaper Publishers Assn. meeting, Van de Kamp warned: “If we engage in a mud-slinging or name-calling campaign against judges hard-pressed to defend themselves in the traditional political style, we stand to lose a great deal.”

The Democratic attorney general specifically mentioned Republican Gov. George Deukmejian, saying the governor was “not entirely educated” when he said last week that the state’s high court had made several anti-business decisions.

31 Cases Cited

At the time of the speech, Deukmejian could cite no examples of such decisions. On Wednesday, however, the governor cited 31 rulings by the state Supreme Court that he said showed an “attitude” that discouraged business.

Deukmejian and others have made several comments in recent weeks about the court’s performance, many of which have been critical of Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird, one of five justices facing confirmation elections in 18 months.

Besides Bird, Justices Stanley Mosk, Cruz Reynoso, Joseph Grodin and Malcolm Lucas also face reconfirmation elections in 1986. Deukmejian appointed Lucas; the others were appointed by Democratic governors.

The attorney general blasted negative comments about justices, saying: “I do not intend to take a back seat in the face of public dialogue that degenerates into virulence and meanness.”

Van de Kamp said he will not endorse or oppose any of the justices coming up for reconfirmation, adding: “I am simply here to provide a cautionary yellow light and to encourage simple fairness.

“Gov. Deukmejian has had one appointment,” Van de Kamp said. “Naturally he wants a lot more and wants them now.”