SUPERIOR COURT (2/16/2000)

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CREDITS

Posted at 10:47 a.m. PST Wednesday, February 16, 2000

SANTA CLARA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Office 1

What's at stake? A seat on the Superior Court bench, which handles major civil and criminal matters in the local court system. Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Dolores Carr faces Douglas B. Allen, a private civil lawyer.

DOLORES CARR

Who is she? Dolores Carr (www.dcarr.com), 46, a deputy district attorney, has been a Santa Clara County prosecutor for 14 years, and oversees a team of 15 attorneys who work with adult and child victims of sexual assault. She was the first prosecutor to specialize in the prosecution of sex offenders who fail to register with authorities. Carr received a bachelor's degree from the University of California-Berkeley and her law degree from Southwestern University.

Why is she running? She wants to promote greater understanding of the legal process, continue to improve efficiency and reduce delays within the court system as well as introduce more technology in the courts.

DOUGLAS B. ALLEN

Who is he? Douglas B. Allen, 46, is a private lawyer who has practiced criminal and civil law for the past 18 years. He also is a lobbyist for the Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Union and has represented them in lawsuits against the department. Allen received bachelor's and master's degrees at San Jose State University, and a law degree at Santa Clara University School of Law.

Why is he running? Allen believes the bench needs to be bolstered with people with a wide variety of civil litigation experience.

Office 2

What's at stake? Three candidates -- Susan Bernardini, a deputy public defender, John Schroeder, a Superior Court commissioner, and Dale Lohman, a deputy district attorney -- vie for an open seat on the Superior Court bench.

SUSAN BERNARDINI

Who is she? Susan Bernardini (www.susanbernardini.com), 51, has spent 13 years as a deputy public defender for Santa Clara County, handling a broad range of criminal cases. She currently serves as the supervisor of felony drug caseload. Bernardini earned her law degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Why is she running? Bernardini says she is the candidate with the firmest commitment to community programs, and cites her involvement in improving the criminal justice system to help treat non-violent drug offenders.

JOHN SCHROEDER

Who is he? John Schroeder (www.schroeder4judge.com), 50, has been a Superior Court commissioner in the family court division since 1997, handling custody, child support and visitation issues. He was previously a lawyer in private practice in San Jose. Schroeder earned his law degree at Arizona State University.

Why is he running? Schroeder says his experience as a family court commissioner, a quasi-judicial position, best qualifies him to be a Superior Court judge.

DALE LOHMAN

Who is she? Dale Lohman (www.dalelohman.org), 44, is a deputy district attorney for Santa Clara County. She has been a prosecutor since 1990, handling major felony cases including ``three strikes, you're out'' prosecutions and cases within the economic crimes unit. She worked for a large law firm before joining the district attorney's office. Lohman earned her law degree at the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Why is she running? Lohman says her record as a prosecutor, as well as previous background in civil practice, qualify her to be a Superior Court judge.

Office 11

What's at stake? Three candidates -- William Priest, a private lawyer; Margaret Johnson, a Superior Court commissioner; and Blaine Fields, a trial lawyer -- battle for an open seat on the Superior Court bench.

WILLIAM PRIEST

Who is he? William Priest (www.priestlaw.com), 59, is a lawyer, specializing in civil litigation. He was president of the Santa Clara County bar association in 1999, judge pro tem in the superior court system since 1976 and a former presiding hearing officer for the San Jose civil service commission. Priest received his law degree from the University of Idaho.

Why is he running? Priest believes his lengthy legal experience qualifies him to become a judge.

MARGARET JOHNSON

Who is she? Margaret Johnson (www.johnson4judge.com), 55, is a Superior Court commissioner who has a long career specializing in family law, including the past five years as a commissioner and referee in Santa Clara County's family court division. She has served on various bar committees devoted to family law and domestic violence issues. Johnson received her law degree from the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Why is she running? Johnson believes her quasi-judicial experience as a commissioner qualifies her for the higher position of Superior Court judge.

BLAINE FIELDS

Who is he? Blaine Fields, 52, is a trial lawyer who has dealt with a broad range of legal practice, including high-tech litigation and representing Santa Clara County correctional officers in employment-related issues. He earned his law degree at the University of Santa Clara School of Law.

Why is he running? Fields says his tough-on-crime credentials qualifies him to be a Superior Court judge.

Office 14

What's at stake? Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Paul Bernal and Deputy Public Defender Thomas Spielbauer are competing for an open seat on the Superior Court bench.

PAUL BERNAL

Who is he? Paul Bernal (www.
bernalforjudge.com), 38, a deputy district attorney, was a civil attorney before joining the district attorney's office a decade ago. He is currently prosecuting defendants charged with sexual assault crimes. He also designed the Crime Task Force of Santa Clara County, which helped create solutions for the criminal justice system. Bernal received a bachelor's degree from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles and a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law.
Why is he running? To continue protecting and serving the community in a more meaningful way.

THOMAS SPIELBAUER

Who is he? Thomas Spielbauer (www.spielbauer.com), 51, has been a deputy public defender for 19 years, during which he also supervised juvenile dependency cases. He is campaigning to make the public defender an elective rather than appointed position. Spielbauer received a bachelor's degree at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and his law degree at California Western Law School in San Diego.
Why is he running? Spielbauer wants to bring a more distinct, libertarian approach to the bench. He believes personal responsibility should be applied to all litigants in the legal system, and favors education rather than incarceration for certain victimless crimes, such as drug use.

Office 20

What's at stake? Santa Clara County Court Commissioner Gregory H. Saldivar faces Deputy District Attorney Linda R. Condron for a seat on the Superior Court bench.

GREGORY H. SALDIVAR

Who is he? Gregory H. Saldivar, 47, is Superior Court commissioner. He began serving as commissioner nine years ago in Municipal Court, and later in Superior Court when both courts consolidated in 1998. As commissioner, he has handled a wide range of matters, including small claims, traffic violations and criminal and civil cases. Saldivar previously had a private law practice for 10 years with an emphasis on criminal law. He received an undergraduate degree at Santa Clara University and law degree at the university's School of Law.

Why is he running? Though Saldivar is not running on any particular platform, he stressed that he wants to continue to treat litigants who appear in front of him in a fair and impartial manner.

LINDA R. CONDRON

Who is she? Linda Condron, 45, has been a Santa Clara County deputy district attorney for 12 years, handling homicides and other major felonies. She also has taught extensively at law schools. Condron received a law degree from Lincoln Law School of San Jose.

Why is she running? Condron would like to see less time wasted in court. She would like to reduce the amount of time it takes a case to get to trial and improve the system of the administration of justice.

-- Mercury News Staff Writer Sandra Gonzales

Published February 20, 2000