Judges Show Human Side to the Public

Orange County judges stepped down from the bench Tuesday night and engaged in a get-acquainted session with the public, urging people not to see them as remote figures in black robes, but as human beings.

More than 60 forums like the two in Santa Ana and Fullerton are taking place all over California this week. They are the cornerstones of “Meet Your Judges Week,” a campaign by several legal groups to help “demystify” the legal process and let people ask questions of their judges.

“There’s been a feeling on the part of the judges that we’ve been too isolated in our black robes and in our courtrooms,” said Superior Court Judge Tully H. Seymour, who helped organize the forums. “There’s a lot of public misunderstanding about what we do, so getting out and showing our human side to the public is a very healthy thing.”

The California Judges Assn., the State Bar of California and other groups organized the event, which continues through Saturday. It was modeled after several pilot programs around the state.

About 14 judges participated in the forum in Fullerton’s north court and another 17 attended the Santa Ana session. Each attracted more than 100 people, a turnout one judge called disappointing.

In the council chambers of Santa Ana City Hall, groups of judges performed skits that poked fun at criminal trials and traffic and small claims courts. They explained the procedures used in each court, then answered written questions from the audience.

The queries ranged from judges salaries ($94,344 for Superior Court judges and $86,157 for Municipal Court) to why the courts can’t add more judges to avoid trial backlogs (it’s up to the state Legislature to create more judicial positions). Some questions were just for laughs:

“If you get stopped for a traffic citation,” one question read, “why make such a big deal out of it if you punch out the officer?” It was signed, “Zsa Zsa Gabor.”

In Fullerton, audience members got to stroll through the courthouse cells used to hold prisoners with court dates.

Some judges gave helpful hints, such as urging small claims litigants to bring photographs and experts to court to bolster their arguments. Others shared the more personal side of judging.

Answering a question about how judges control their emotions during trial, Superior Court Judge Margaret Anderson said it is not always easy, but as a judge she must do so.

“No matter how you feel inside, you can’t show anything,” she said. “You have to look objective and controlled in the courtroom. . . . There have been times when I go into my office (after trial) and cry. But I never show anything inside the court.”