Wednesday, February 11, 2004
Page 3
Two Judicial Candidates Reveal Final ‘Qualified’ Ratings
By a MetNews Staff Writer
A prosecutor and a deputy public defender running for open seats on the Los Angeles Superior Court said yesterday they were unsuccessful in appealing ratings of “qualified” for judicial office from a County Bar panel.
Deputy Public Defender C. Edward Mack and Deputy District Attorney Craig Renetzky said they have been advised by the bar group’s Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee that their tentative ratings will not be upgraded.
Mack is one of six candidates for the seat being vacated by Judge Richard Hubbell. The others are Deputy Attorney General Gus Gomez, Deputy District Attorneys Jeffrey Gootman, Edward Nison and Lori Jones, and Acton lawyer Larry H. Layton. Gootman had said he has been rated “well qualified,” while Jones and Gomez have been rated “qualified.”
Jones is appealing a tentative rating and Gomez has already been unsuccessful in seeking to raise his rating.
Renetzky is among six candidates seeking to succeed Judge Rosemary Shumsky. Two of his opponents, Deputy District Attorney Craig Mitchell and Superior Court Referee D. Zeke Zeidler, have been rated “well qualified.”
Two others—Deputy Attorney General Robert Henry and Deputy District Attorney David Lopez—have appealed tentative ratings of “qualified.” Henry’s appeal, along with several others, was to be considered at the committee’s final meeting last night.
Torrance attorney Michael Shook is also running for Shumsky’s seat.
Committee Chair Gerald Chaleff said this week that final ratings could be made public as early as today. There are 36 candidates running for nine county judicial seats in the March 2 primary.
Four incumbent judges face a total of eight challengers, while the other 24 candidates are competing for five open seats.
The Los Angeles County Bar Association panel rates the candidates as “well qualified,” “qualified,” or “not qualified” to serve on the bench.
Copyright 2004, Metropolitan News Company