All of these posts sort of demonstrate how troublesome judicial elections are as a process for selecting judges.

But,as previously discussed on this blog, the gubernatorial appointment process is no panacea. It is never a search for the best qualified applicant, but instead is largely politically motivated–pandering to certain political factions, appointing people who fall into certain categories, etc.

Now, perhaps the appointment process would work a lot better if it were changed. The initial panel(which thins the heard to three names to advance to the governor) is dominated with lay people, often who are the face of certain organizations who have real specific agendas.

Then the final three people are interviewed by the Governor, often with a couple advisors in the room.

The screening committee should include far more people who are in the legal field, even though that would be viewed as elitist and exclusionary by the media and public at large(which is probably why the panel is so light on those from the legal field).

Now that all said, those in the local legal field often have their own agenda and settled preferences form the start, so that could contribute further to the political nature of the whole process, and politics is something that needs to be reduced from the process, if it cannot be eliminated.

Perhaps some out-of-state attorneys and judges, and legal scholars or professors, could be included in the panel, as they presumably would not have a dog in the fight and could evaluate someone's legal skills and experience in a more objective manner. But I don't know how practical it is to recruit out-of-state people. There may not be to many willing to serve, and it may create some real delays and a lot of additional expenditure of resources.

But something must be done to dramatically improve the process. Anyone have any constructive ideas?

Voy has been sitting in the juvenile delinquency department evading attention for too long. He holds court 3 days per week, although the juvenile department runs 5 days a week. This means the hearing masters are carrying the bulk of the cases. He was in charge of a Statewide committee years ago to come up with delinquency court rules. We don’t have any! Voy has been “trying” to get a sexually exploited girls treatment home for about 10 years, if not more. Where is that home? Voy has no follow through.

There is very little programming for girls that come into the court system. They surely do not have the same opportunities as the boys. Seems like a Constitutional issue (gender – equality) here. Instead of using court AA (filing) fees to work on programming and equality issues, Voy is more concerned about his Spring Mountain Youth Camp (boys only) sports teams. He sure wants them to look good with their uniforms and equipment.

The probation and services providers are all vetted by Voy in one form or another. He has used the same providers for years: those same individuals that are feeding his campaign. They got to keep him happy so their source of income continues. Normally, this would be seen as a conflict of interest, but during campaign season all rules are off. The other rules that appear to be off as it relates to Voy and Wingate are the Code of Fair Campaign Practices as well as the Code of Judicial Conduct. Both are meant to keep judicial candidates honest and to instill confidence in the judiciary as well as uphold the integrity of the judiciary.

It is hard to fathom any reason why Wingate is in this departmental race other than a ploy to throw an election. Are Voy and Wingate so naive as to think their familial relationship would not be known, or is this just a brazen act of deception? Wingate is not even trying to campaign, but why would she? Wingate does not practice family law, and if she really wanted to be a family law judge, then there were many open departments from which to choose.. This whole situation smells, but judges are next to untouchable.

As for Nathan, the preemptory challenges are mostly the result of Equal Rights for Divorced Fathers (look the group up if you are not familiar). Therefore, the numbers cannot be trusted. To compare apples to apples, Voy wouldn’t have any preemptory challenges, because where else can the case go? The DA, PD and track conflict attorneys are not going to be filing challenges.

Everybody has had bad experiences with judges. All judges have been reversed on appeal. Not all judges get the luxury of working 3 days per week, while getting paid handsomely. Nathan is a worker, and was in the courthouse when she was supposed to be. There is an EDCR about that, but the rules don’t apply to all. Perhaps, Voy’s work schedule factored into why the Legislature did not give the judges a raise last session.

Department A is not the juvenile delinquency department. Judge Bell is in charge of which specialty department is assigned to a particular department/judge. Keep your eyes open, changes are allegedly happening soon!

Also, just in case it has been forgotten, Voy had the civil commitments taken from him by the Chief Judge a few years ago. But, that was no loss to him because it was a hearing master holding court. Voy would not be in court on a Friday afternoon.

It is time that Voy goes. Wingate is a plant. That means Nathan wins.

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I'm not a Voy basher like 4:45, nor am I a complete, unquesstioning fan like 10:20.

But 4:45 is right that the exploited girls home program has been a lot of PR talk for a decade, while Judge Voy instead places far more eefforts efforts in consistently seeking, and obtaining AA funds for his boys only Spring Mountain Youth Camp, for the purpose of uniforms, equipment, etc.

And I don't agree with Judge Voy's spouse, at 8:28, that someone is a horrible person for pointing that out.

However, in support of 8:28, I will say that a lot of what 4:45 says is mean-spirited and false, IMO.

Judge Voy, on the balance, is a real plus and should be re-elected. But even he would know better than to deny(at least I bet he knows not to deny it to himself) where his true priorities and efforts have been.

So Judge Voy, in this next term(and, yes, you will win convincingly) please stop fixating on the boys sports teams, and make some real efforts toward establishing the exploited girl camp–efforts which will actually match the verbal statements and representations you have made in support of such project.

Now, with al that said, I recognize that his hands are so full, and he is being pulled in some many directions with the myriad of commitments he undertakes. But this home for exploited girls is a much more compelling need than to consistently purchase new uniforms and equipment for the boys sorts teams. Some of these girls are like 14 and have been impregnated by their pimp, as well as consistently beaten by such pimp if the girl returns home without enough money each day.

So, let's never forget what's really important.