SAN DIEGO — In the upcoming June 3 elections, there are three members of our Jewish community who are running for important offices in our court system and although they differ widely in political philosophy, we know all of them to be committed to the concept of tikkun olam – repair of the world – and to the injunction that we read in Deuteronomy 18:20: “Justice, Justice, shall you pursue…” It is therefore San Diego Jewish World’s pleasure to positively recommend their candidacies to our San Diego County readership.
In the highest profile race is District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, who deserves reelection, having a strong record of obtaining felony convictions, while at the same time working to develop programs to help offenders turn their lives around. For example, she has instituted or supported such programs as Veterans Court, Mental Health Court, Re-entry Court and Drug Court in what she describes as efforts to stop the revolving door to prison. If reelected, Dumanis has indicated she plans to focus resources on such societal ailments as human trafficking, elder abuse and cybercrime.
There have been a lot of accusations made against Dumanis by supporters of Bob Brewer, one of her opponents, but although the accusations grabbed a few headlines, they didn’t stand up under examination—and in fact, were dismissed — by such impartial groups as the City’s Ethics Commission or the California Fair Political Practices Commission. It’s important, especially for people who have their eyes on the DA’s office, to thoroughly research the law before tossing around charges.
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Previously we profiled two candidates for judicial office – Brad Weinreb, a member of the state attorney general’s office, and Carla Keehn, a prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Weinreb is running for the Superior Court Office No. 25 that Cynthia Ann Bashant vacated to become a U.S. District Court Judge. The Bar Association has rated him better qualified than either of his two opponents, Michelle Hagan and Ken Gosselin. In addition to his day-to-day duties in the attorney general’s office, Weinreb also teaches appellate advocacy as an adjunct professor at Cal Western Law School
Keehn is running for Superior Court Office No. 20 against a sitting judge, Lisa Schall, who has three times been the subject of admonishments by the state’s Commission for Judicial Performance. In two situations, the admonishments dealt with how she conducted her courtroom duties; in the other Schall was admonished after being convicted of alcohol related reckless driving.
With or without Schall’s troubles, we think Keehn deserves election on her own merits. She has been a diligent prosecutor and serves as an adjunct professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law teaching rules of evidence.
We’re proud to endorse Bonnie Dumanis for District Attorney, and Carla Keehn and Brad Weinreb, respectively, for Superior Court Offices Nos. 20 and 25. – Donald H. Harrison