Finally judged

Deirdre Newman

A dignified hush fell over Department C1 of the Central Justice

Center Friday afternoon as Karen Robinson donned her judge’s robe.

Robinson, who resigned as the Costa Mesa mayor on April 15, was

formally sworn in during a ceremony in front of her family, close

friends and former colleagues from the City Council. She has been

sitting on the bench for a month now, having been effectively sworn

in on April 18.

“The day has finally come, and I am thrilled,” Robinson said. “My

dream has come true.”

The day was momentous on personal and symbolic levels.

Robinson is the first African American female judge to be

appointed or elected in the county.

“From the Asian, Latino, Arab American and other ethnic

communities, they have all shared with me her attention to detail,

honesty and fairness -- the perfect common ground for greatness and

history,” said Robert McDonald, president of the Orange County Black

Chamber of Commerce.

Gov. Gray Davis appointed Robinson to the Orange County Superior

Court on March 26. She replaces Judge Stuart Waldrip, who resigned in

July 2002.

Robinson was elected to the council in November 2000. The

40-year-old lawyer often used her legal skills to grill lawyers

representing applicants for projects and could quickly retort about

legal findings based on the city’s master plan.

In January 2002, the Mesa Verde resident launched an unsuccessful

write-in campaign to unseat Orange County Superior Court Judge Ronald

C. Kline and applied for an appointment soon thereafter.

For eight years, Robinson has served as judge pro tempore for the

Municipal and Superior Courts, presiding over small claims cases. She

has also served as a court-appointed arbitrator for the county

Superior Court.

After being sworn in, Robinson thanked her family for supporting

her and her judicial ambitions.

“So many people have asked me how I am able to accomplish so much

[in such a short period of time],” Robinson said. “The answer is

simple: I come from a family of doers.”

Robinson’s older brother, Philip Robinson II, looked on with pride

as his sister received a long line of well-wishers with hugs and

smiles.

“It’s very exciting,” he said. “This is something I knew was going

to happen because from the time she started talking, this is what she

said she would do.”

Cindy Brenneman, one of Robinson’s closest friends and most ardent

supporters, expressed her elation at seeing Robinson fulfill her

dream.

“I couldn’t be happier,” she said. “I think no one deserves it

more than Judge Robinson. And I think she’ll bring the same level of

fairness and integrity she brought to the [Costa Mesa] City Council.”

After graciously receiving all her supporters and taking a slew of

pictures with family members, the gravity of the occasion gave way to

levity.

Robinson posed for a picture with the bailiff and flexed her

muscles in her new robe, a robe she says signifies the seriousness

with which she takes her new job.

“It represents a tremendous responsibility -- one that I

understand and take very, very seriously,” Robinson said.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.