Local Results in Brief : Mirich Elected to Justice Court

San Pedro criminal defense attorney Peter Mirich was elected judge of the Catalina Justice Court in Avalon by more than a 2-1 margin, despite an aggressive campaign by opponent Joe Piro, who claimed in election eve mailers that he was the choice of the Republican Party.

Mirich received 67.3% of the vote for the sole judicial post on Santa Catalina Island, to 32.7% for Piro, a deputy city attorney for Los Angeles.

Mirich said he was pleased with his victory but angered by a pamphlet that showed Piro as part of a slate of Republican candidates headed by Vice President George Bush. Mirich said that he is also a Republican and that the party did not endorse a candidate in the nonpartisan judge’s race.

Piro could not be reached for comment.

Mirich received the most votes among the record 16 candidates entered in the June primary. Piro placed second in the primary, but many residents said his frequent campaign trips to the island became tiresome.

Beginning in January, Mirich will serve one day a week at the Avalon courthouse and four days a week in mainland municipal courts. The Justice Court has been filled by temporary judges since June, 1986, when Judge Robert H. Furey was removed from the bench for misconduct.