2012 SAN DIEGO JUDGE ELECTIONS:
JUDICIAL CANDIDATE RATINGS
Learn about our ratings process
from President Marvin Mizell.
During San Diego County elections, there is often little information available about candidates who are running to be judges. In many instances, the results of San Diego judge elections are determined by voters who do not have the facts they need. Therefore, it is important that voters participating in elections within San Diego County be educated. By taking these measures in the upcoming judge elections of San Diego, it is possible to ensure that only qualified judges are elected, as they are the judges who preside over the voters’ family matters, business disputes, and other legal issues.
In order to help provide more information to voters in judge elections, the San Diego County Bar Association has a special committee, the Judicial Election Evaluation Committee (JEEC), which evaluates each candidate’s ability to serve as a judge. Each candidate participates in the process voluntarily, and is given a rating of “Well Qualified,” “Qualified,” or “Lacking Qualifications.” In the November 2012 San Diego judge elections, there is only one run-off race between judicial candidates for seat 25.
OFFICIAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY BAR JUDICIAL CANDIDATE RATINGS
Here are the JEEC’s ratings for the candidates in the November 2012 San Diego judge election:
Robert Amador
Well Qualified
James Miller Jr.
Lacking Qualifications
Information is collected from the legal community and is used to rate the candidates on the following criteria:
Judicial temperament
Intellect and ability
Knowledge of the law
Trial experience
Professional reputation
Industry and work habits
Decisiveness
Fairness and objectivity
Courtesy and patience
Humor and perspective
Judgment and common sense
Compassion and understanding
Integrity and honesty
Administrative ability
Community respect
Physical and mental health
Courage
Writing and research skills
Any other factor that might affect the candidate's ability to serve as a judge
OTHER FACTORS AFFECTING SAN DIEGO COUNTY CANDIDATE RATINGS IN JUDGE ELECTIONS
During the evaluation process, the Committee may also consider any violation of the Judicial Election Campaign Code of Ethics, which governs all judge elections within San Diego County.
A candidate who is rated “Lacking Qualifications” is lacking one or more of the essential abilities or skills to satisfactorily perform the judicial function, as listed above.
The Committee is comprised of 21 attorneys and retired judges who represent a cross section of the legal community by gender and ethnicity and political affiliation, including lawyers from the public and private sectors, civil and criminal law practitioners, corporate counsel, sole practitioners, and members of small, medium and large firms.
For more information on the SDCBA’s 2012 San Diego Judge Elections Judicial Ratings, visit www.sdcba.org/jeec2012release.
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