Thomas Abandons Struggle to Regain Presiding Judge’s Post

Los Angeles Municipal Judge Maxine F. Thomas announced Monday that she has given up her fight to win back her job as presiding judge, although she still believes her ouster was “unfair” and “unjust.”

“Because of my deep respect for the orderly administration of justice, I have decided to put the good of the public and also the good of the court first in this matter,” the 39-year-old judge told reporters, adding that she has also abandoned the notion of suing in an effort to get her removal invalidated.

Flanked by Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and her attorney, Godfrey Isaac, Thomas made her announcement from the attorneys’ table in a courtroom in the Criminal Courts Building, to which she was assigned by Judge George W. Trammell, who succeeded her as presiding judge.

Her decision appears to mark the end of an unusual internal court fracas that erupted several months ago when fellow jurists began complaining that Thomas was using her job to enhance her prospects for winning a Superior Court seat. Forty-two of the court’s 80 judges petitioned for her removal.

After being recalled last Wednesday on a 57-13 vote of her colleagues, Thomas said she still considered herself the presiding judge and would continue in that role. On Friday, Trammell posted marshals outside Division 1 to block Thomas’ access and to prevent a confrontation.

However, at her news conference Monday, Thomas said, “I will not disrupt this court.”

At 3:30 p.m. she assumed the bench in her new courtroom, where she will handle misdemeanor criminal matters.

Isaac said he prepared legal papers last weekend for a lawsuit that he believes his client could have won. It was to be based on the argument “that before a person is removed from office, they are entitled to certain basic fairness. . . .”

“I believe Judge Thomas should have had an opportunity to be heard, she should have been able to tell her accomplishments, she should have been able to answer any questions that were asked,” Isaac continued. “But she has taken the high road.”

In answer to questions, Thomas said that in making her decision, she was influenced by the fact that the quarrel with her colleagues had become national news. She cited an article on the controversy that appeared in Sunday’s New York Times.

Hahn, while praising Thomas for her “outstanding” record and for administering the Municipal Court with “dignity,” said he had advised her to back off from a potentially costly legal battle.

‘Stand Tall’

“I thought she should stand tall and say the court comes first,” the supervisor said.

“Now there will be a process of healing that will take place,” he added later in his statement.

Until Monday, the politically influential Hahn had not been publicly identified as one of Thomas’ supporters in her conflict with her fellow jurists. Dan Wolf, Hahn’s spokesman, said Thomas called Hahn for advice Monday morning and requested that he participate in her news conference.

“They go back quite a number of years,” Wolf said.

In their attack on Thomas, who faces a November runoff in a Superior Court election, a number of colleagues accused her of excessive absenteeism and criticized her for holding an unprecedented installation ceremony in January, when she began her one-year term as presiding judge.

Trammell, who last week urged Thomas to refrain from disruptive activity, issued a statement Monday saying that “the court will now go about its business at this time.”

He declined further comment.