Judge Tentatively Sides Against Move to Kill Suit Against Sheriff

A federal judge in Los Angeles on Monday tentatively sided against efforts by Orange County lawyers to keep former Municipal Court Judge Bobby D. Youngblood’s lawsuit against Sheriff-Coroner Brad Gates from going to trial.

Youngblood’s four-year-old lawsuit, in which he claims that Gates used improper surveillance and harassment tactics against him for political purposes, is scheduled to begin trial on April 14.

On Monday, county lawyers asked U.S. District Judge John G. Davies to throw out the heart of Youngblood’s case, which would have the same effect as stopping the trial altogether. Davies did not give the county a final “no,” but he told the lawyers that his tentative decision is to turn them down. He then took the matter under submission.

Points “Interwoven”

Davies said the 14 major points under consideration in the county’s request were too “interwoven” to single any of them out for dismissal.

The tentative ruling prompted Youngblood’s attorney, Michael J. Cisarik, to say, “This case is going to go to trial, and Sheriff Gates is going to be embarrassed by what comes out.”

Youngblood left his Central Municipal Court judgeship last year to run for sheriff-coroner against Gates. But the three-term incumbent gave him a sound drubbing in the June election.

Another plaintiff listed in the Youngblood lawsuit is Pat Bland, a private investigator and close associate of Youngblood’s. Bland ran against Gates in 1982, but made a dismal showing at the polls. Both claim that Gates has had them followed and has made them targets of “spurious” investigations only because they were political opponents.

Gates has denied the accusations, but has a general policy of not discussing Youngblood.

The sheriff is expected to testify at the trial, which is expected to last about six weeks. Youngblood and Bland will also testify, Cisarik said.

Youngblood left the country shortly after the election to live in Spain. But he issued a statement Monday saying he was back in Orange County and expects to practice law in Santa Ana. He pointed to the upcoming trial as his reason for returning.

Youngblood was censured by the state Supreme Court two years ago for abusing his judicial office by throwing an elderly doctor in jail for disagreeing with Youngblood’s decision in a small-claims case. Youngblood said later that the incident occurred when he was drinking heavily and that he regrets it.