CA: Governor taps broad swath of attorneys to trial bench

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 2/16/05 | AP - San Francisco

[NormsRevenge]

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger tapped 11 attorneys with a variety of legal backgrounds and political affiliations Wednesday in a bid to fill dozens of trial court vacancies in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Fresno and San Bernardino counties.

Tapped to the Los Angeles County bench are Eleanor Hunter, 43, a Democrat and Los Angeles County prosecutor of Los Angeles; Michael Lavanas, 55, a Democrat and Los Angeles county court commissioner of Pacific Palisades; Scott Millington, 44, a Republican and Los Angeles County prosecutor of Manhattan Beach; and Dorothy Reyes, 52, a Democrat and insurance defense practitioner of Pasadena.

To the Sacramento County bench are Laurie Earl, 42, a Democrat and internal investigator for the state Inspector General of Sacramento; and Alan Perkins, 56, a Republican and business defense attorney of Davis.

Tapped to the Fresno bench are Donald Franson Jr., 53, a Republican criminal defense and civil attorney of Fresno; Jeffrey Hamilton Jr., 40, a Republican and Fresno County prosecutor of Clovis; and David Kalemkarian, 42, a Republican and Fresno County court commissioner of Fresno.

To the San Bernardino County bench are Jon Ferguson, 42, a San Bernardino County prosecutor of Rancho Cucamonga; and Raymond Haight III, 55, a San Bernardino County court commissioner of Laguna Beach.

[muawiyah]

This is much improved. Under Gray Davis a fella' had to date the governor, or his friends, to get considered.

[Cicero]

Four Democrats. Did Gray Davis give Republicans one third of his appointments? Just curious, I don't know what the rules and procedures are in California.

[Fido969]

I think we need a long-term plan to get more good attorneys in the judicial pipeline.

Problem is, the good ones make too much money to want to go into public service. And the legal-aid "want to make a difference" nit-wits seem to get the public track thing going that leads to judicial appointments. I mean I look at the Maine Supreme Court and there are a few there that could not survive without a government grant or paycheck. Those are the ones that are trying to impose their political beliefs on the public at large.