Choices for the Courts

Most people know what qualities a good judge should have. The problem that voters face in the low-profile judicial elections is determining who has them, because the voters seldom know the candidates or anything about them. That is a particular problem in the races on this June’s ballot. The results of a recent Orange County Bar Assn. poll of members indicated that even the legal community knows little about most of the 18 people seeking seats on the bench.

In an effort to determine which candidates have the best performance records and potential, we interviewed all of them, as well as people in legal circles in a position to evaluate them. We found five candidates--one incumbent judge and four other candidates seeking to fill vacancies created by retirement--highly qualified, and urge their election June 3:

WILLIAM M. BEDSWORTH, Superior Court Office 5: There are two outstanding attorneys in this race--Bedsworth and Robert Gallivan. We think that either would make an excellent judge. But Bedsworth, a senior prosecutor in Orange County for nearly 15 years, is the best of the field. He had the highest rating of all candidates in the Orange County Bar Assn. poll, and has the legal intellect, temperament and ability to win the endorsement of most of the Superior Court judge1931501934ours, too.

DAVID BRICKNER, Superior Court, Office 15: This race also has two well-qualified candidates, but Brickner’s wide range of experience gives him the edge. He is a former Orange County prosecutor and private-practice attorney who now sits as a Municipal Court judge in Westminster. As a judge, he has shown good judgment and has served on assignment to the higher Superior and state appellate courts.

WILLIAM F. McDONALD, Superior Court, Office 17: McDonald was appointed to the Municipal Court bench by Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. It’s one appointment that hasn’t drawn partisan criticism. Gov. George Deukmejian was so impressed with McDonald’s work that he elevated him to the Superior Court bench last January. McDonald deserves to stay there. He is far better qualified than his challenger.

JAMES M. (JIM) BROOKS, Central Orange County Municipal Court: As a senior prosecutor in the Orange County district attorney’s office for the last 13 years, Brooks has conducted hundreds of trials and preliminary hearings. He has also demonstrated a strong conviction for open courts that keep the public informed. Brooks’ experience, record of competence and enthusiasm for the law make him worthy of election.

RICHARD E. BEHN, North Orange County Municipal Court: Sitting as a court commissioner in the North County court since 1983, Behn has demonstrated a fine knowledge of the law and an exceptional judicial temperament that has earned him praise from police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, judges and the public. He is doing the job of a judge. We strongly urge his election as one on June 3.