Editor’s column
I have been a journalist for 30 years, but I’ve been a legal journalist only since June, so I’ve been reading a wonderful book called “The Reporter and the Law” by Supreme Court reporter Lyle W. Denniston.
My biggest takeaway so far is how important it is that the members of our communities choose our judges wisely. It really matters who our judges are.
In most cases, the judge determines the direction and destination of justice.
“In the long run, there is no guarantee of justice except the personality of the judge,” said Justice Benjamin Cardozo, who served in the U.S. Supreme Court in the 1930s.
Our democracy protects our right to choose judges that represent our values, priorities and definitions of justice. And it’s up to us to ensure the demographics of the bench reflect the diversity of our communities.
Toni Momberger, executive editor, Follow Our Courts
Judges are there to use their personal judgment to make important decisions.
“…The judge on the bench – and especially the trial judge – has a reach of authority that is exceedingly wide, and he usually has broad freedom to apply that power in practice,” Denniston wrote.
There’s a reason these are elected positions. Their public function is presumably to be accountable to the political will of the people, Denniston asserts.
Our democracy protects our right to choose judges that represent our values, priorities and definitions of justice. And it’s up to us to ensure the demographics of the bench reflect the diversity of our communities.
The further I get into this book, the more impelled I become to be a catalyst for informed voting in judicial races.
I started asking people casually how they decide which judges they vote for. Most people outside of the legal industry do not do any research. Of those that do, most just do a quick online search to see if they are reputed to lean politically similar.
Many people do not vote for judges at all.
Then last month I was at a meeting, and I got into a conversation with the woman sitting next to me. She was the daughter of a judge, an incumbent running for re-election.
She suggested I organize a forum for the candidates. Once she said it, it seemed obvious. Of course I should.
There are four open seats in Riverside County and 26 incumbents running unopposed.
There are two open seats in San Bernardino County and 28 incumbents running unopposed.
I drafted a plan for a forum in each county featuring that county’s candidates for the open seats.
The University of Redlands and Riverside City College immediately agreed to partner with Follow Our Courts by providing venues. Then the League of Women Voters of San Bernardino Area (which I am a member of) contacted me to partner on a forum, unaware that I had these events on the drawing board.
So now we have two fora scheduled, to be brought to the counties of the Inland Empire by four agencies committed to providing non-partisan information and education.
I hope you will come and that you will feel enthusiasm about the candidates that earn your votes.
