Local News in Brief : Boycotted Van Nuys Judge Accepts Transfer

Ending a bitter struggle with prosecutors who accused him of bias, Van Nuys Superior Court Judge Melvin B. Grover gave in Monday and accepted a transfer to a Superior Court in Pasadena, where he will handle civil cases.

Grover was informed Thursday by Thomas T. Johnson, presiding judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, that the transfer had been arranged, but he at first vowed to continue his fight long enough to hear a kidnaping trial Monday in Van Nuys. However, Grover said he reconsidered and transferred the case to another Van Nuys Superior Court judge.

The district attorney’s office alleged that Grover mistreated prosecutors and was prejudiced in favor of defendants. Grover denied the allegations and complained that “inept and inexperienced” prosecutors were assigned to his courtroom.

The district attorney’s office on Oct. 18 began filing “affidavits of prejudice” against the judge, seeking to disqualify him from hearing all criminal cases. Grover challenged some affidavits that were not filed within the required time and retained jurisdiction over enough cases to keep him busy in Van Nuys through last week.

He will be replaced on Jan. 6 by Judge George Xanthos, who has been hearing civil and criminal cases in Pasadena Superior Court.