Endorsements in 9 Judicial Races

Nine contested or open-seat judicial races will go before the voters on the March 7 ballot. One, for Los Angeles Superior Court, Office No. 31, will be decided by all county voters. But only voters residing in specified municipal court districts can vote in races for the other eight seats. These are listed in the ballot as municipal court offices; however, by virtue of last month’s merger of county municipal courts and the Superior Court, the winner in each municipal court race will actually take office as a Superior Court judge.

The Times makes the following endorsements in these judicial races:

Superior Court, Office No. 31. There are strong candidates here in Commissioner Douglas Carnahan and Referee Jeffrey Marckese, but the edge goes to Katherine Mader. A deputy district attorney who began her career as a public defender, Mader also served as the Police Commission’s first inspector general. In that intensely political job, Mader didn’t worry about taking popular positions. That independent quality would be an asset in a judge, as would be her dual prosecutor-defender experience.

Alhambra Municipal Court: John Martinez is the incumbent; neither of his two challengers makes a compelling case for unseating this well-qualified judge.

Antelope Municipal Court, Office No. 1: Christopher Estes, a prosecutor with a stint in private practice, has broader experience than his opponent. Our nod goes to Estes.

Antelope Municipal Court, Office No. 2: This race would seem to be an easy call--for incumbent Judge Pamela Rogers over two attorneys in private practice, neither of whom the Los Angeles County Bar Assn. finds to be particularly distinguished. But because of Rogers’ own middling rating from the bar association and a past admonishment from the Commission on Judicial Performance, we endorse her without enthusiasm.

Beverly Hills Municipal Court, Office No. 2: From a large field with several strong candidates, we pick Richard Stone. A deputy district attorney for the past 13 years, Stone has won praise from judges he’s appeared before and from many in the legal and political communities.

Downey Municipal Court, Office No. 4: Incumbent Jesse Rodriguez, appointed to the bench in 1997 and now the presiding judge, faces an opponent whom the Los Angeles County Bar Assn. rates as “not qualified.” We endorse Rodriguez.

Inglewood Municipal Court: Of the two worthy candidates, we endorse Deborah Christian, who became a court commissioner in 1994 after a solid career as a public defender.

Los Angeles Municipal Court, Office No. 1: This is another race with several strong and appealing candidates. We endorse David Mintz, a thoughtful and experienced deputy district attorney. In 15 years as a prosecutor, Mintz has earned a reputation for intelligence and capability that should serve him well on the bench.

Los Angeles Municipal Court, Office No. 44: This is an easy call--for Richard Rico, the incumbent, appointed to the bench last October by Gov. Gray Davis. Rico’s opponent, rated as not qualified by the Los Angeles County Bar Assn., admits to having minimal trial experience.