VIC'S PICS 2008
MARICOPA COUNTY EDITION
(Another look at the propositions, judges and local candidates from an unabashedly biased point of view, paid for by no one except the back table boys at Delaney's Pork Pie House, the home of "Pork pie that makes you cry.")
The Judges
This year, once again thanks to "Breaker" McClowsky , so named because he once hit the podium so hard during closing argument that he broke it (if you don't have the law, pound on the facts, if you don't have the facts, pound on the law; if you don't have the facts or law, pound on the table); Alice the Wrench, our inside source at the motor pool(loose lips in front of auto mechanics - bad idea), and Snap Brim Danny, who once appeared in court with a yellow snap brim hat, lavender pants, and a pistachio shirt (it was an LSD trial; the jury found him guilty of sartorial insultation, and let his client go), here's a new selection of the royal robes for this year. Remember, this is your only chance to vote "NO,", so use it. As usual, we have the "Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," but with so many judges and so little time between pork pies and the lemon merangue pie.
So let's start with the winners of this year's "Golden Robe" awards. These judges have all been selected for their appropriate judicial temperament, knowing and applying the law, understanding that despite what Bush and the gangsters in Washington, the County Attorney's office and the Sheriff's Department might say, there is still a Constitution around here someplace and for not bowing down and kissing the feet of prosecutors and big law firm insurance defense attorneys. So, Sarah, if you will hand me the envelope (drum roll, anticipatory gasps, lights up), the winners are with a "YES" from the Vic are:
Court of Appeals, Division One
Diane M. Johnsen - smart and able to follow the law
Patricia Orozco - (former prosecutor with guts and able to stand up to the State).
Maricopa County Superior Court
Helene F. Abrams - Was head of the Maricopa County Public Defenders Juvenile Unit, took a lot of heat when she suppressed a confession in a child molest case, Andrew Thomas was livid (my, oh, my!); not afraid to put the law above possible adverse publicity; generally an outstanding judge.
Silvia Arrellano - Sylvia had a lot of trouble when she started out because of lack of experience, and many lawyers thought she was not very bright. But she learned well; has thrown out a number of Sheriff A-payaso cases because of illegal wiretaps; very courageous, sticks to the law and works hard; not afraid to buck the prosecutors or the police,; an active member of Los Abogados.
Anna M. Baca - Formerly a lawyer at EEOC; she is the presiding criminalcourt judge, does only administrative work and keeps the criminal court running smoothly.
A. Craig Blakey III - Irascible, smart with a liberal bent; believes very strongly in individual rights and privacy; gets the job done.
John A. Buttrick - Bright and professional, former Libertarian candidate for governor; appointed by Governor Hull, a good choice, Vietnam veteran; strong on economic impact of the law.
Bruce Cohen - Excellent judge, very bright, considerate on the bench, teacher, treats everyone fairly.
John Dittsworth - Former county attorney who couldn't get along with Andrew Thomas; progressive, fair, a straight shooter; keeps the prosecutors on a short leash.
Glenn M. Davis - Politically astute, minority counsel for the Democrats in the legislature; appointed by Napolitano, works hard and knows the law.
Thomas Dunevant III - Very fair and considerate of defendants, witnesses and counsel; works hard, knows the law, very professional.
Ruth Hilliard - Hard to get along with, but very bright and works hard; very liberal, stands up for what she believes in; has been a judge for over 20 years.
Kristin Hoffman - Cool towards lawyers and parties, but bright and works hard; very sharp on the law; strong supporter of women's rights.
Paul Katz - Came from the US Attorney's office; loquacious and very funny; bright and works hard; fair and very liberal.
Andrew Klein - Juvenile court judge, fair, well-liked, works hard.
Robert Oberbillig - Was a civil practice lawyer, appointed by Governor Hull, he turned out to be a lot less conservative than she thought he was; very collegial, likes to mentor new judges.
Jose Padilla - Not a heavyweight in the law, but excellent in family court, very patient and considerate of conflicting interests of the parties.
Karen Potts - works hard in the family law section, progressive, was a vice-president of the Arizona Center for Law in the Public Interest; a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.
Timothy Ryan - Andrew Thomas considers him to be a sworn enemy because he won't bow down to Sheriff A-payaso, Wilenchik, and the rest of Thomas's gang; very smart and fair, a former public defender and prosecutor.
Roland Steinle III - former public defender; smart and works hard; makes the right decisions but manages to aggravate everybody; defense oriented, and sets high standards for the public defenders office.
Christopher Whitten - Former deputy county attorney; defense oriented; bright, works hard, very self-effacing; strong Democrat.
And now for the "NO" votes for the "BAD" awards.
These judges are generally inefficient and ineffective, don't understand or apply the law correctly, they are timemarkers waiting for retirement, can't do their work on time, or have unjudicial temperaments:
Supreme Court:
W. Scott Bales
Court of Appeals:
Ann Scott Timmer
Sheldon Weisberg
Superior Court
Louis Araneta
Edward Ballinger
Connie Contes
Lisa Daniel Flores
Jeanne Garcia
Jo Lynn Gentry-Lewis
Michael Gordon
John R. Hannah, Jr.
Cari A. Harrison
Michael Kemp
Margaret Mahoney
Paul McMurdie
Colleen McNally
Michael McVey
Linda Miles
Robert Miles
Teresa Sanders
Sherry Stevens
Richard Trujillo
David Udall
And finally, the votes for the "UGLY" awards. These judges are actively or passively malicious, misapply the law, or are biased and prejudiced to such a degree that they shouldn't be on the bench.
Superior Court
Linda Akers - Pro-prosecution, biased against Hispanics, heavy handed sentencing of minorities.
Crane McClennan - called an "idiot savant" by some lawyers, and a "total prick" by others. Wants everything his way, sticks it to the defense as much as possible, gives prosecutors the run of the court; never admits that he has made a mistake; totally unfit. |
