Panel Would Add 4 New County Judges : Legislative Committee Also Recommends Stricter Rules on Use of Old Courthouse

The game was “judges,” the rules were unorthodox and the political stakes were high.

When the dust settled, a key legislative panel recommended Monday that Orange County get three new Superior Court judges and one new Municipal Court judge. The panel also recommended stricter rules about who may use the county’s historic courthouse.

The decisions came as the Legislature, with only four days remaining until fall adjournment, was trying to decide how many new judges were needed in districts up and down the state.

Swipes at Supervisors

Assemblyman Richard Robinson (D-Garden Grove), who chaired a joint Assembly-Senate panel deciding which communities would get new Superior Court judges, proved to be a pivotal player as the compromise legislation took shape.

However, Robinson was lobbying for more than judges. With the backing of his colleagues, he took several carefully aimed swipes at members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, who have clashed with him on the use of the old county courthouse in Santa Ana.

Robinson pressed hard for language in the bill to remind members of the state’s 4th District Court of Appeal that its judges are supposed to hold sessions in the old courthouse.

“The (Court of Appeal) judges are now using temporary facilities in a new building which has lots of law offices,” Robinson told fellow legislators on the committee.

Move Draws Fire

Robinson’s concerns date back to a 1981 bill he sponsored that established the new Court of Appeal in Orange County, but on the condition that there be a special building to house the judges. Subsequently, the state passed a bill mandating that the new branch court be housed in the historic Orange County courthouse.

But the move drew fire from county supervisors, who believe the state is trying to monopolize use of the building. Last month, the board voted to seek legislation that would overturn the Legislature’s designation of the courthouse as a home for the court. They contended that the court wanted “unlimited” access to the building and would effectively prevent the county Historical Commission from using the courtroom as a museum.

Angered by the board’s vote, Robinson also inserted language in the state bill that he said would bar county supervisors from putting Superior Court and Municipal Court judges in the old county courthouse.

“The county doesn’t have any such plans that I know of,” said Dennis Carpenter, Orange County’s lobbyist, as he testified before Robinson’s committee.

Dispute Over Judges

Robinson, however, said he knew of “one supervisor” who was averse to the legislative intent of using the old courthouse solely for the Court of Appeal judges. Robinson later identified that supervisor as Roger Stanton.

While the battle over the courthouse language was brewing, there was also a dispute over how many Superior Court judges Orange County would receive in the final state bill.

Robinson’s original proposal called for two new Orange County judges, but Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) appeared before Robinson’s committee urging more.

“The (state) Judicial Council said Orange County would need seven,” said Bergeson. “Three would be a bare minimum.”

In the end, Robinson acceded to her plea and added another judge to Orange County’s proposed total. The compromise bill, as sent back to both Senate and Assembly for votes of their full membership, called for a total 37 new judges, including three for Orange County.

Earlier, a conference committee chaired by Assemblyman Elihu Harris (D-Oakland) agreed to give Orange County one new Municipal Court judge in the Harbor Court at Newport Beach.