Conroy Says Times Got It Wrong

* The Los Angeles Times has the constitutional right to express any opinion it wishes in its editorials, but it has no right to get the facts wrong. In your editorial on May 15, you got the facts wrong and in the process defamed me.

You say that I asked to delay the [sexual harassment] trial: “. . . it was the assemblyman himself who asked for the delay.” That is false.

I was ready to go to trial on May 6. The California Constitution specifically allows members of the Legislature to avoid civil trials while the Assembly is in session. I waived that privilege so we could go to trial on May 6. My wife had flown to Sacramento for the trial. My lawyers were ready. Then on May 6, a court official announced that the trial would have to be delayed because of a lack of courtroom space. Neither I nor my lawyers asked for the delay. In fact, I learned of the delay only after returning to my office in the Capitol from an Assembly floor session.

Here is the second falsehood. Your editorial says I “agreed to a delay from August.” This is wrong on two counts. First, there never was an August trial date. Both the plaintiff’s lawyer and my lawyer had schedule conflicts throughout August. Second, I never agreed to this delay. The lawyers for both sides agreed on the new date themselves. I was not consulted.

Why didn’t my lawyer consult me? He didn’t need to because he knew that I wanted to go to trial as soon as possible and he chose the earliest possible date.

What about the plaintiff’s attorney? Here’s what The Times said in its news columns on May 7: “Boyd’s attorney, Carolee Kilduff, said the delay is not a problem. ‘November turns out to be the most convenient time,’ she said.”

Why didn’t you bother to check the facts? Just look at your March 18 editorial page endorsements in the Orange County supervisors’ race. “It is tempting to label this one as an ‘ABC race,’ anyone but Conroy,” you say. As you have in every one of my races, you go on to endorse one of my opponents. Of course, I’ve won all those races and perhaps that’s what really motivates your editorial writers. When it comes to Mickey Conroy, you don’t feel any obligation to check the facts. After all, you’ll support anyone but Conroy.

The allegations in this lawsuit are false. That’s bad enough. But there’s no excuse for The Times adding new, politically motivated falsehoods to the case.

MICKEY CONROY

Assembly, R-Orange