- Quickdraw McLaw
- 2020 Judicial Primary
- 16 Comments
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With primary ballots set to start arriving in mailboxes next week, it’s time to talk about some of the contested judicial primary races featured on that ballot. We welcome your comments on the qualifications of the candidates as well as any information you can offer to help voters make an educated decision. Just remember to keep your comments appropriate and try to avoid defamation.
For District Court Judge, Family Division, Department I, the candidates are:
- Soonhee “Sunny” Bailee
- Yvette Chevalier Lopez
- Michelle O. Tobler
What are your thoughts on the race in this department?
Ok, I'll start. I've appeared in family court about three times in 20-plus years, and that is three times too many. But Sunny Bailee seems to be well-liked and respected by people who know her, and she has more than sufficient experience in the area. So, she presumptively has my vote barring anything terrible coming out.
Sunny Bailey is a Hearing Master, and would be okay if she can be a little more humble, and a little less self-promoting(although I realize when one is running for election that is a time when they must be self-promoting).
She seems bright enough, and capable and experienced enough in Family Court matters. I think she'd be adequate or better.
Chevalier has some Family Law experience, and I believe she also might perform adequately, although some of my colleagues disagree. They may have more case involvement with her and more of a point of reference to evaluate her from. They also make some observations about how she comes across, but I don't want to get into personalities.
As for M.Tobler I do not believe she has any substantive Family Law experience she has, but I could be wrong about that.
I am voting for Sunny Bailey. She is the most ecoetienced. Michelle Tobler is a civil litigation attorney with no family law experience. Yvette, you do not want her on the bench.
Experienced, damn auto correct
Sunny has disqualified herself from my vote and the vote of every single solitary person who I have counseled. Not humble. Her mantra on her ads that everyone gets a hearing is balderdash insofar as I have multiple cases in which even Domestic Discovery was not aware that she had issued rulings before the Hearing Dates. And every single discovery ruling she has ever made that was adverse to my clients was set aside by the respective judges. Every. last. one.
Name one, Yvette.
I am 2:53 and not Yvette. I am not naming the cases in which Sunny's DCRRs have been thrown out and outing my clients so that when they have another discovery motion in front of her she can screw them over. The record is available on each of the cases.
With that said, its a tough choice because Michelle Tobler does not seem to have the chops. Yvette can be a little….much. However she is head and shoulders better than Sunny.
Sunny is smart and knows the law. I have appeared in front of her multiple times, and while she may not be the "warm and fuzzy" type, she gets it right. I only have positive things to say about her in court and in discovery. She has virtually every endorsement – including all of those who appear in front of her. Chevalier does NOT have the temperament to be a judge. She is erratic at best. Tobler does not have the experience and hasn't don't the first thing to show interest. She didn't even show up to the RJ virtual debate. I will be voting for Sunny.
Sunny is the best candidate by far. I litigated against her as an attorney and appeared in front of her as the hearing master. She is fair, knows the law, and can manage her calendar.
I am voting for Sunny Bailey. Her discovery decisions are always well reasoned. She also has a good demeanor for the bench.
I've been in front of Bailey and seen her on the bench quite a bit. She has always seemed fair to me, plus I'm not sure about her not being "warm and fuzzy." She does amazing with the families in juvi court. She's kind and engaging and lets litigants be heard. It sounds goofy, but in family court, it matters. People are stressed and freaking out when they're there. It matters when the person on the bench takes the time to listen and be kind. Even if she rules against them, she at least gives people a chance to be heard and she's not disrespectful to them.
Sonhee Bailey is smart and experienced. She will win this election. But beware: She has had numerous jobs over her career, and she has a hard time getting along with people. She already has quite a case of robitis, and when she wins this job, which she will, and when a few more years pass, she will be a very difficult person to deal with. Fortunately, this will not be a problem I have to deal with.
Numerous jobs over her career? Yes, that is what makes her the most experienced candidate. She has worked as a PD. She has worked as a DA. She has been in private practice. She has been sitting as a juvenile hearing master for years. The BEST judges are the ones who have had experience on both sides of the aisle. Furthermore, when you practice law for as long as she has, of course there are career changes. I would much rather an experienced attorney sitting on the bench than one who hasn't seen the inside of a courtroom or has only done so in a limited capacity. I have appeared in front of her numerous times and she is a fantastic judicial officer. She does not have "robitis." If you are prepared and know the law, you will be just fine in her courtroom. She is concise and fair. She runs a tight and efficient courtroom so if people want to interpret that as not "warm and fuzzy" then so be it. I personally don't want a judge who is warm and fuzzy. Judge Stu Bell was one of the best I appeared in front of and I doubt anyone referred to him as "warm and fuzzy." She is respectful to attorneys, parents, kids and probation officers and if you asked around family court, you would hear that her reputation is tough BUT FAIR. Couldn't ask for more in a judicial candidate, if you ask me.
I have extensive experience with Sunny Bailey. To my knowledge, Sunny has never been anything other than polite, fair and impartial. She gets along with all of her court staff, parties and families. She has ALL the endorsements from police, fire, etc. Juvenile probation officers appear in front of her every day and she received their endorsement. This consolidated show of support from all law enforcement entities clearly demonstrates that the parties who actually interact with her are impressed with her courtroom skills and conduct. The criticisms of her as not "sweet" enough or not "humble" enough sound like sexist tropes to me.
Anyone begging SS for support should not be elected. Reject Yvette.
Sunny all the way.
I am voting for Sunny because she has helped our family with an issue that pertained to my youngest son. At the time she didn't know me and helped my son see a life coach that helped him understand his future. Never did either one of these amazing people ask for anything except what they could do to help my family. We are now friends and I have seen even more great things she does for this community. Sunny all the way!!!!