For Superior, Municipal Courts

Two levels of court seats are at stake on the June 3 primary ballot: Superior Court, whose judges hear major civil cases and felonies, and Municipal Courts, whose judges conduct felony preliminary hearings and hear traffic cases, misdemeanors and smaller civil cases.

In the races for open seats--three Superior Court races and the Pasadena Municipal Court election--we feel confident that each of the candidates whom we are endorsing would serve ably, based on outstanding records that they bring before the voters. We believe in general that judges should continue to serve unless there is persuasive evidence of poor or improper service; as a result, we are endorsing three of the four Municipal Court judges who have been challenged.

For Superior Court, we are endorsing:

Office 1--LEON S. KAPLAN. All five candidates have some form of bench experience; all could do the job. In our judgment Kaplan, a Municipal Court judge since 1981, could do it best. A member for six years of the California Youth Authority Board, he has especially demonstrated initiative and ability in working with juvenile defendants--a major problem for the criminal system. Superior Court Commissioner John W. Dickey is an experienced candidate as well.

Office 2--JUDITH MEISELS ASHMANN. Ashmann serves as supervising judge of the Van Nuys branch of Los Angeles Municipal Court. Before her appointment to the bench in 1981, she had wide experience as a deputy probation officer and an attorney in the offices of the state attorney general, the Los Angeles city attorney and the U.S. attorney. She gets high marks for her expertise in the complexities of both constitutional and criminal law, and is especially well equipped to be a Superior Court judge.

Office 12--BERNARD KAUFMAN. Kaufman practiced law for 22 years before his appointment 10 years ago to the Burbank Municipal Court. He has a reputation as a fair but tough judge. Without compromising his performance on the bench, he has worked diligently on committees to deal with problems posed by drunk drivers. Michael Rutberg, a municipal judge in the Citrus Court, is a solid candidate as well. Maxine Thomas, presiding judge of Los Angeles Municipal Court, is not; she has confused ambition with achievement.

Our choices for Municipal Court follow:

Office No. 3--BOB FUREY. Judge David M. Kennick’s record on the Los Angeles Municipal Court bench does not support his contention that he is qualified to remain in office. His challenger, Catalina Municipal Court Judge Bob Furey, has a pending--and confidential--disciplinary proceeding before the Commission on Judicial Performance. Furey, who otherwise comes well recommended as a hard-working and dedicated judge, may have learned from the experience. We trust that he has, and with that understanding we endorse his candidacy.

Compton Municipal Court--IRMA J. BROWN. Brown served four years as a commissioner in the high-volume Compton court before Gov. George Deukmejian named her as a judge this year. She is intelligent, compassionate and hard-working. Her opponent, an attorney, says that he “just wanted to change his career.” It is the closest thing to a frivolous challenge that we have seen in some years; it should be defeated.

Pasadena Municipal Court--JUDSON W. MORRIS. Morris, a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney for 10 years, is the best candidate in a five-person race. The deputy in charge in Pasadena for the last year, Morris would bring to the bench a solid record in law enforcement. Kevil Martin, a Pasadena court commissioner, and Robert C. Lutz, Rio Hondo commissioner, offer solid bench experience and are good candidates.

Rio Hondo Municipal Court--J. B. CASAS JR. Casas, appointed to the bench in 1983, is presiding judge of the Rio Hondo district. Nothing in his record disqualifies him from remaining on the bench, and the challenge should be defeated.

Whittier Municipal Court--JAMES A. McKECHNIE. McKechnie, the incumbent, has been on the bench since 1978, and has not been challenged before--nor should he be now. His opponent lacks the experience or the temperament to represent a valid alternative, and this challenge, too, should be defeated.