Kline unfit to sit, challenger says

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- The Costa Mesa woman who was the first to challenge

Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald C. Kline, now under house

arrest for child molestation charges, filed court papers Thursday

claiming he is unable to perform his duties as a judge and should not be

eligible for reelection.

Gay Sandoval, a former Daily Pilot columnist, filed a six-page

affidavit with the Orange County Superior Court outlining various reasons

she feels Kline is not suited for reelection.

At the top of her list is the fact that Kline is forbidden to leave

his home for work, according to the conditions of his house detention.

Sandoval states plainly in the affidavit that a judge must be able to

come to the courthouse to perform the duties of judicial office.

“I don’t profess to be an expert, but I obviously don’t think he’s

eligible for office,” said Sandoval, adding that this experience is her

first with election law.

The former prosecutor turned civil attorney also noted that the

conditions of Kline’s house arrest prohibit him from working with “any

organization dealing with the care, custody or control of children under

the age of 18.” The Orange County Superior Court does deal with children,

so Kline cannot comply with conditions of his house detention and work at

the courthouse, Sandoval said.

Sandoval said she originally asked the Orange County Board of

Supervisors to remove Kline from the primary ballot, but supervisors told

her they had no authority to do that. The legal way to get him removed

would be to file the papers within five days of the confirmed election

results, she was told.

Kline, who was running for reelection unopposed until Sandoval opened

the race for write-in candidates, was trounced in the primary election

despite the fact that his was the only name on the ballot. While he

garnered only 32% of the votes, he earned a spot on the November ballot

for a runoff.

Dana Point attorney John Adam had the most votes, followed closely by

Kline, then Sandoval.

The jurist also filed a request last month to have his name removed

from the November ballot because the controversy surrounding his criminal

charges has caused “an unbearable strain upon him,” a statement from his

attorney read.

If Kline’s name is removed from the ballot -- as a result of his

request or Sandoval’s -- Adams would face Sandoval in the November

runoff.

Kline’s request was moved to Los Angeles Superior Court to avoid any

conflict of interest and is scheduled to be heard April 9. Sandoval said

she believes her request may also be transferred to Los Angeles and

probably could be heard by the same judge.

After a long, complex campaign with various twists, Sandoval said she

doesn’t know what to expect.

“I filed it,” she said. “We’ll just see what happens.”

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .