Brown for Municipal Judge

In the June primary race for a seat on the Municipal Court, the San Diego County Bar Assn. gave three of the eight candidates for Office 13 its highest rating, “well-qualified.” Two of those three candidates were defeated in the primary.

The third was Deputy Dist. Atty. Frank Brown, who faces a runoff election Nov. 8 against attorney Donna Woodley. Woodley, a defense attorney who primarily handles traffic cases, was given the bar’s lowest rating, “not recommended.” According to the bar association, the rating of “not recommended” means that the candidate possesses “less than the minimum qualities of professional ability, knowledge, experience, competence, integrity and temperament considered necessary to perform the judicial office . . . adequately and satisfactorily.” A well-qualified rating means the bar association finds the candidate to have “superior fitness” for the judgeship and an ability to perform “with a high degree of skill and effectiveness.” In between those ratings is one of “qualified.”

Because the average voter has little information to guide his decision in judicial races, the bar’s ratings take on considerable significance, especially those of “not recommended.” In arriving at its ratings, the bar not only solicits information from the candidate but also surveys at least 200 attorneys and judges about the candidate’s qualifications.

We agree that Deputy Dist. Atty. Frank Brown is the better candidate for Municipal Court. Brown has been a prosecutor for 16 years and, before that, was a police officer. His experience in handling more than 100 felony jury trials also better prepares him for the bench.

Woodley, by contrast, has filled in as a judge in small-claims court but has no felony trial experience.

Municipal Court judges conduct felony preliminary hearings and hear traffic cases, misdemeanors and civil cases involving less than $25,000. They also fill in for Superior Court, where major civil and felony cases are heard.

Besides his Bar rating, Brown has been endorsed by the National Organization for Women, and the black attorneys and defense attorneys associations. Those who know Brown and have worked with him say he is conscientious and knowledgeable about the law.

He is also given high marks by many for “judicial temperament”--essentially the ability to give both sides a fair hearing and to be calm and composed amid the pressures of the courtroom.

We recommend a vote for Frank Brown for Office 13 of the Municipal Court.