Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Page 4
Judge Susan Lopez-Giss Named to Alliance Board
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Alliance of California Judges has formally appointed Susan Lopez-Giss of the Los Angeles Superior Court as its newest director, a spokesperson said on Friday.
Lopez-Giss, who could not be reached on Friday, succeeds now-retired Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Charles Horan, who stepped down from the bench in May, on the leadership board of the statewide organization.
The group honored Horan at a reception in Pomona on Thursday, following the closed board meeting where the election of Lopez-Giss took place.
Horan said he was “proud as I’ve ever been to be recognized by my wonderful colleagues and companions in the alliance,” whom he described as “the best group of individuals I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with, period.”
Kern Superior Court Judge David R. Lampe, an alliance director, presented the bronze statuette of an eagle in flight to Horan, whom he praised as “an inspiration,” and “man of action” who is “fearless, decisive, and tough.”
Fresno Superior Court W. Kent Hamlin echoed this sentiment, remarking that “it’s one thing to have ideas, but another to put them down in concrete terms and make them happen,” as Horan did.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Bruce Minto, an Alliance member, said Horan was “an outstanding judge and outstanding worker on behalf of judges.” Judge Robert A. Dukes, a former presiding judge for the Los Angeles Superior Court, added that there are “few judges that are as smart…as principled…[and] as good with the issues facing the branch” as Horan.
Judge Thomas C. Falls, site judge of the Pomona courthouse where Horan once sat, also had high praise for Horan as a bench officer.
“There wasn’t any type of case I couldn’t assign to Chuck,” Falls said, “from petty [thefts] with priors to multiple murders with special circumstances, I was confident he would handle it superbly.”
Copyright 2011, Metropolitan News Company