Endorsement for Judgeship

* As the representatives of the 90 deputy district attorneys employed by Ventura County, we are extremely disappointed that The Times endorsed Gary Windom for Superior Court judge.

Gary Windom is the defense attorney who represented repeat felon Robert Cunningham on charges of felony murder and armed robbery following his foiled heist of a liquor store in Newbury Park. The robbery resulted in a standoff with police during which Cunningham’s partner in crime was shot and killed. On Dec. 17, 1996, after his client was convicted of all charges by a jury of 12 Ventura County citizens, Mr. Windom, referring to the involved peace officers, told a Times reporter outside the courtroom that the “real murderers” were walking out of the court.

This comment took Mr. Windom far beyond the role of a zealous defense attorney and demonstrated that he distrusts our laws and the officers who are sworn to enforce those laws. Ventura County does not need a judge who brings this kind of prejudicial view to the bench. Judges are sworn to uphold the legal system that they serve, not to denigrate it.

Your endorsement of Mr. Windom noted that you hope to create more diversity on the bench, implying some dissatisfaction with the composition of the current bench. We feel the need to point out that Ventura County is currently rated as the safest county in the western United States. We would hope that your readers would want to support candidates who seek to maintain that level of safety.

For that reason our association endorses Kevin McGee for Superior Court judge. He is the one person in the race who is superbly qualified for the position. He has amply demonstrated through his long record of law enforcement service that he embodies respect for the law, the very principle that has made Ventura County so safe.

MAEVE J. FOX

TOM CONNORS

MARK PACHOWICZ

MICKYE COYLE

RON BAMIEH

Board of Directors,

Ventura County Deputy

District Attorneys Assn.