San Fernando’s Mackey Will Run Again for Seat on Superior Court

San Fernando Municipal Judge Malcolm H. Mackey, defeated in his bid for Los Angeles County Superior Court in 1980 after he acknowledged that he had three illegitimate children, has announced that he will run for the higher court again.

Mackey, 58, a resident of Sherman Oaks, said he will run in the June 7 primary. He was defeated in his earlier bid by then-Alhambra Municipal Judge John R. Stanton.

“I had domestic problems, but those things happened years ago and have no bearing on this election,” Mackey said. “It is my hope that the media and the public won’t dwell on those things and will look at my significant accomplishments in the judicial field.”

In 1984, Mackey was reelected to a six-year term as a Municipal Court judge. In 1985, he served as presiding judge of the Los Angeles Municipal Court, which has 10 branches. Mackey is vice chairman of the county Municipal Court Judges Assn.

‘Not Dictatorial’

“Mackey is well-qualified for Superior Court,” said Billy D. Webb, head deputy in charge of the San Fernando branch of the county district attorney’s office. “Unlike some judges here, he is not dictatorial, and he has civil as well as criminal law experience.”

Mackey practiced law for 19 years before being elected to the Municipal Court bench in 1978. He has an undergraduate degree in psychology and graduated from Southwestern University Law School in 1958.

Mackey’s candidacy brings to four the number of municipal judges who have announced that they will run for three open seats on the Superior Court.

Judges Terry Smerling of the Van Nuys branch and Jerold A. Krieger of the Encino branch, and Rio Hondo Judge J. Michael Byrne have announced they will run.

The filing period for candidates to submit declarations of intention to run for Superior Court seats begins Feb. 1 and ends Feb. 10. During that period, each candidate must designate which seat he or she plans to pursue.