Justice Mosk to Run Again; Bird Foes See Clear Sailing : 73-Year-Old Seeks New 12-Yr. Term

Justice Stanley Mosk, the senior member of the state Supreme Court, announced today that he will seek another 12-year term in November, ending speculation that he might step down after 22 years on the court.

Mosk’s bid for confirmation by the voters increases the likelihood that the liberal majority that has dominated the court in recent years will remain intact after this fall’s election.

The 73-year-old justice, a moderate liberal who is one of the best-known state jurists in the country, had drawn some opposition earlier, leading to predictions that he would retire rather than face a heated political battle.

But Mosk himself in recent months had indicated that he was reluctant to step down and give the appearance of being driven from office. At the same time, criticism of Mosk has subsided and at present he faces no organized opposition from conservative forces who have mounted a drive against Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird and two other court liberals.

No Campaign Trappings

In a brief statement, Mosk told reporters here he plans to have no campaign chairman or committee and does not expect to solicit or accept campaign contributions. He will pay the $1,989.78 campaign filing fee--along with the 22 cents for a stamp to mail his declaration of candidacy to Sacramento, he said.

“I am confident the electorate will be able to evaluate, without paid political advertisements, my 22 years judicial service on the Supreme Court, my nearly six years in law enforcement as attorney general . . . and my prior experience as a trial judge,” he said.

A Democrat, Mosk was elected attorney general in 1959, serving until 1964, when he was placed on the state Supreme Court by Gov. Edmund G. (Pat) Brown.

Mosk, tanned and appearing fit after a recent trip to Ireland, declined to answer further questions but did say he made the decision to seek another term “within the past few days” after discussing the matter with his wife, Susan, among others.

Deukmejian Chances

Had Mosk decided to retire, it would have enhanced the prospect that Gov. George Deukmejian, a frequent critic of the court’s liberal bloc, would get the chance to appoint a new, more conservative majority.

Thus far, Deukmejian has made two appointments, Justices Malcolm M. Lucas and Edward A. Panelli, both seen thus far as moderate conservatives. They face the voters this fall but neither faces organized opposition.

Also on the ballot are three liberals, Chief Justice Bird and Justices Joseph R. Grodin and Cruz Reynoso. All three have been targeted for defeat by conservative organizations and, according to campaign polls, Bird in particular seems in danger of being turned out by the voters.

Deukmejian himself is seeking reelection, and if he continues in office, it would be up to him to fill any vacancy on the court.

Justice Allen E. Broussard, another liberal, is not on the ballot.

Won’t Be Targeted

Janet Byers, a spokesman for the California Coalition for Court Reform, reiterated today that the groups that make up the organization would continue to oppose Bird, Grodin and Reynoso, but no other justices, including Mosk.

“It looks like Mosk will have clear sailing,” Byers said. She credited Mosk with “keeping an open mind” on many issues, including the death penalty.

“And he’s certainly more experienced than anyone else on the court,” she added.

Mosk’s announcement was welcomed by Wendy Garfield of the Independent Citizens’ Committee to Keep Politics Out of the Court, a group supporting all of the justices on the ballot.

“We want to retain any members of the court,” Garfield said. “We think it’s got a balance now of liberals and conservatives--and a balanced court is a healthy court for the state.”