Our Choices in Judicial Races
In the everyday court routine, judges, somewhat like sports referees, work in near anonymity to be sure the legal system runs smoothly and according to the rules. But unlike federal court judges with life appointments, judges on the local level must pass muster with the public in local elections.
There are four such Superior and Municipal Court judicial contests on this year’s June 2 ballot. As usual, the incumbent judges and attorneys seeking court seats are virtually unknown to voters, making an important ballot decision all the harder.
To be effective, a judge first and foremost must know the law, and be able to see the legal issue clearly. Judges also must display sound judicial temperament, fairness, compassion, independence, a capacity and desire for hard work and a proven record of performance.
After speaking with the candidates and others in the legal community in a position to evaluate them, we believe the following four jurists are most qualified, and we urge their election.
Superior Court
Office 1: Gail A. Andler, incumbent. Andler was elevated from the Municipal Court to Superior Court last year by Gov. Pete Wilson. The former prosecutor is a Juvenile Court judge and is active in juvenile crime prevention programs and working with victims of domestic violence. She receives high marks for her intelligence and fairness from defense attorneys as well as other judges.
Office 9: Stephen Sundvold. The contest in this office is between two Municipal Court judges seeking to fill the open seat that is being created by Judge Everett Dickey’s retirement. We believe Sundvold is the better qualified. He has extensive civil experience as a trial lawyer to go along with his eight years of Municipal Court experience, where voters twice reelected him. He has earned a reputation of being a compassionate, hard-working jurist. His skills are well-matched for the Superior Court’s needs.
Office 21: John Watson, incumbent. Watson, a jurist since 1989, is endorsed by several law enforcement agencies and minority bar groups and is far more qualified than his challenger. In addition to his duties on the bench, Watson drafted the nation’s first anti-stalking law and teaches law at Chapman University law school.
South Orange County Municipal Court
Office 1: Ronald P. Kreber, incumbent. The former Los Angeles Police Department homicide sergeant and Orange County prosecutor is a popular, personable judge who is involved in the community as well as the judicial system. He is a strong advocate of the new Drug Court’s promising rehabilitation approach to sentencing and has been honored as Judge of the Year by both the Orange County Trial Lawyers Assn. and the Orange County Hispanic Lawyers Assn.