Candidate for
Judge of the Superior Court; County of Riverside; Office 3

ACCESS TO JUSTICE

The economic downturn of the last several years has had a severely detrimental impact on the ability of Californians to access the courts for resolution of legal issues. Whether the case involved is for a traffic ticket, or a divorce, or the resolution of a loved-one's last will and testament, Californians deserve to have their day in court within a reasonable period of time.

The Riverside Superior Court has been largely successful in protecting the public from the impacts of budget cuts, and will continue to work toward that end. However, some reinvestment will be needed. In the meantime, difficult decisions must be made.

PUNISHMENT FOR CRIME

The People of the State of California have spoken clearly and often. Those who would prey on our communities and rob us and our families of our sense of safety and security in our homes and on our streets must be punished. For these people, only when there is certainty of punishment will there be respect for law. As a prosecutor and a judge, I have seen a frightening increase in illegal drugs, gang activity, and senseless violence. Societal and governmental response must be manyfold, including effective education and the strengthening of the family. However, we cannot ignore the immediate need to protect ourselves and our children. That must be done through effective law enforcement, supported by a responsive and responsible judicial system.

JURY DUTY

Trial by jury is a time-honored tradition in the American legal system. While we have seen some very positive changes in the particulars of the jury system in corning years, trial by jury of our peers remains as the cornerstone of our system of justice.

I recognize the hardships created by jury service and I continue to be committed to reducing the demands of jury service on the citizens of our community. Few people are able to take days or even weeks out of their lives to serve. We can and must reduce those demands so that more are able to serve, which will in turn lead to verdicts that better reflect justice and fairness. And while those citizens are serving jury duty, the courts must show respect for their time and their sacrifices. I have done that during these last two decades, and will continue to do so.

JUDICIAL ACTIVISM AND JUDICIAL RESTRAINT

Judges are not elected or appointed to make law. That is a right reserved to the People and exercised either through their legal representatives in the legislative and executive branches, or through the initiative process. A judge's job is to apply and enforce the law. It is not the place of a judge to replace the judgment of the People with his or her own views.