Deukmejian Will Appoint Bird’s Successor in Month : Seeks Court ‘Credibility,’ Tells ‘Smear’ Resentment

Gov. George Deukmejian, landslide winner for a second term, said today that he will announce his choice of a successor for ousted Supreme Court Chief Justice Rose Elizabeth Bird within a month.

Deukmejian said he is gratified by the defeat of Bird and two associate justices, Cruz Reynoso and Joseph R. Grodin. He said he will submit names to fill all three vacant posts at the same time.

“There is a great need in my view to restore credibility and confidence in the Supreme Court,” Deukmejian said at a post-Election Day news conference in Century City.

However, he insisted that his attack on Bird and others who voted against the death penalty should not inhibit future members of the court in their decisions.

“They don’t have to worry about making a living,” he said.

Hard to Forgive, Forget

A bitter Deukmejian, while savoring his landslide victory, said it will be hard to forgive and forget the “smear campaign” waged by his opponent, Mayor Tom Bradley.

Deukmejian, admitting that the campaign battle must be placed behind him, indicated that he has unhealed wounds from Bradley’s attacks.

“It will be quite difficult for me to forget the major smear campaign undertaken by the Bradley campaign,” the governor said.

“They spent millions of dollars attacking my personal integrity.. . . I think it is most unfortunate that they engaged in that kind of a campaign strategy, and obviously it didn’t work for them.”

Asked about Bradley’s offer to help, Deukmejian said, “I can think of one place he could be helpful . . . in our efforts to site a state prison in Los Angeles.”

No Further Political Goals

Deukmejian also said he has no political plans beyond serving his second term as governor.

At a separate news conference today, Bradley declined to analyze the election results while renewing his offer to help Deukmejian in the coming term.

But he declined to retract any charges made about his opponent during the campaign.

“I said a number of things,” he said. “I meant what I said.”

Bradley arrived at City Hall this morning in apparent high spirits despite resounding defeat in his second attempt to become governor of California.

‘One of the Best Jobs’

“It’s rare to be able to lose an election and wake up to one of the best jobs in the world,” Bradley told a news conference crowded with members of his campaign staff.

“I love this city. I look forward to the opportunity of preparing this city for its great destiny,” Bradley said.

Bradley refused to discuss or analyze the election results. Instead, he stressed that “the campaign is over. I have always tried to be gracious in accepting the will of the people.”

Asked whether he planned to seek a fifth term as mayor, Bradley stopped just short of an affirmative answer.

“I consider this one of the greatest cities in the world. I can tell you I love what I’m doing. I intend to continue in that. I’m not declaring my candidacy for mayor in ’89. I may have come damn close,” Bradley said, laughing.

Critical of Election Costs

Finally, Bradley criticized the amount of money spent in statewide elections.

“It’s obscene the amount of money that needed to be raised and spent,” the mayor said.