Tracy Press

 
Democratic Club hears from four lawyers who vie to become Superior Court judge.

The Tracy Democratic Club got a rare peek tonight at four lawyers who want to be elected in June to the San Joaquin County Superior Court bench.

While the lawyer-candidates said they’re restricted from expressing opinions on issues, as political candidates do, they made an exception — the logjam of cases in the county’s Superior Court.

“Our court is working fairly well on the civil side,” said Phil Urie, 58, a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office for almost 23 years. “But we’re awash in criminal cases.”

The four men discussed their backgrounds — all from Stockton — and qualifications — all lawyers who have practiced at least 15 years.

They also touched on some distinct differences.

James Morris, 62, has been a lawyer for 37 years in state and federal trial courts and is married to San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Robin Appel.

“I have the breadth and length that exceeds all,” Morris told the group.

He’s unique among the candidates because he’s worked as a “discovery referee” in advising various judges in complex litigation. He also has the most impressive endorsement list, including 26 presiding and retired judges and numerous elected officials, law enforcement officers and business leaders. 

David Drivon, 48, is the only one of the four who mentioned any Tracy connections. He worked here for two of his seven years as a criminal prosecutor with the DA’s office. Since then, he’s done civil litigation for private firms.

“I feel I am the only candidate here who has a serious and substantial background in both criminal and civil law,” he said.

Drivon didn’t mention this during the meeting, but his late father, Laurence Drivon, was a district attorney and municipal court judge in Stockton for many years and was the namesake for the Humphrey’s College law school.

Frank Pacheco, 60, an attorney in private practice, described some of his experiences aside from law. He’s a pilot whose first career was in the electronics industry. He also was a deputy sheriff before he got his law degree.

“I’ve seen the best and the worst in law enforcement,” he said.

Urie said his background isn’t all law, either. A U.S. Army veteran, he worked in an accounting firm and majored in Russian in college.

Urie, Pacheco, Drivon and Morris declared their candidacies in February after Judge John W. Parker announced his retirement without notifying the state so that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could appoint his replacement. Up until now, the county’s Superior Court judges have all been appointed.

The terms of nine other Superior Court judges are up, but their names won't be on the ballot because their seats are not being contested.

In order to win outright after the June 3 primary, one of the four candidates for the open seat would have to get more than 50 percent of the votes. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters will face off in November.

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written by OlSkooler , May 15, 2008

Lets see if they can keep promises......