My Qualifications

By John Ladner

Why I believe I am the best candidate.

I believe the scope of my multi-faceted career is more comprehensive than any of my opponents and provides me with a substantially greater degree of substantive and procedural legal knowledge and a more comprehensive understanding of the perspectives of the competing interests that are inherent in every court proceeding. I believe my length of service on the bench, and, equally important, my judicial assignments--often to very difficult courts traditionally assigned to judges--have afforded me the time and an environment not yet experienced by any of my opponents in which to develop the level of skills, insights, legal knowledge and understanding of the human condition a jurist needs to meet the challenge of increasingly more complex cases and controversies.

Unlike any of my opponents, my legal background encompasses prosecution, defense, administrative law and large scale civil litigation. As a Federal attorney, I gained valuable experience and insight into the prosecutorial process and perspective. Moreover, my responsibilities included participation in major civil litigations representing the United States and daily legal analysis of administrative law and the implementation of statutory mandates. As a criminal defense and juvenile court lawyer, I acquired a comprehensive knowledge of criminal and juvenile law and a deep understanding of the Constitutional and legal rights of the accused and of the role of defense advocate. I have been able to utilize these multiple perspectives and this legal knowledge as a judicial officer in reaching fair, balanced and law-based decisions that do not favor one side or the other, but which do reflect an understanding of contrary positions and the adversarial process that comes from actual experience.

My nearly seventeen years of "hands-on" experience as a Commissioner in some of the most difficult courtrooms have allowed me to develop a sound understanding of the mandates of the law and the parameters of judicial discretion to a higher degree than any of my opponents' experience would provide. As a Commissioner, I have learned the essential requirement of maintaining a balanced and unbiased approach in an often very adversarial environment. I believe I have achieved that balance without sacrificing judicial independence or courage. I have also learned to use common sense and prudence in exercising my discretion. My personal life experience and many years in courtrooms with daily calendars comprising often in excess of one hundred serious cases have allowed me to develop a high degree of "people skills" and the ability to apply the law, arbitrate and resolve difficult conflicts, reach sound decisions and clearly communicate in an expeditious manner while still giving each individual my full attention and genuine consideration of the relevant factual and legal aspects of their case. My consistent recognition that every individual who comes before me is a member of the community, my natural empathy with other human beings, and my commitment to fairness--while assuring the rule of law prevails--have enabled me to create a courtroom environment wherein individuals feel they do get their "day in court" and leave understanding the reasons for my decisions and actions.

Compared to any of my opponents, I have significantly greater and more varied experience as a jurist in the Municipal Court and also in matters heard in the Superior Court. As an attorney, I represented hundreds of adults in Superior Court (often as court-appointed counsel), including a substantial number of jury trials (including murders), and am very familiar with that level of criminal law and procedure. I have studiously kept up with developments in the law in these areas. From my years in the child support court, I gained a comprehensive knowledge of family law. I believe I am more prepared than any of my opponents to preside in any criminal, juvenile, or family court in the Superior Court. I noted with interest Presiding Judge Chavez's recent remarks that the most pressing need in the Superior Court is for judges with experience in family and juvenile law. With Court Unification, he hopes to begin addressing that need. My substantial experience in the civil Municipal courts has provided me with a solid understanding of a wide range of civil law in many diverse areas and a strong ability to effectively and efficiently pursue research as needed.

I believe of all the candidates, I am the most ready and able to take on the challenges of Superior Court.