Candidate for
Judge - Superior Court; County of Santa Clara; Office 8

I am an attorney, and mediator, who is running for Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge, Seat 8. In the June election, I came in first by a wide margin. I am asking for your support to help me win on November 4, 2008. (See website address and contact information below. You can contribute on my website).

I have the skills and experience the court needs. My skills helping parties resolve cases, my broad experience in both civil and criminal law, and my experience in Labor and Employment law make me the best qualified candidate for judge. My experience, includes:

• Three and a half years as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County;
• Twenty four years as a Civil Attorney;
• Nineteen years as a Labor and Employment Attorney representing employees and small employers;
• More than a thousand cases including more than a hundred bench and jury trials; and
• Nine years as a mediator.

The court needs judges who can settle cases fairly at the earliest stage of litigation. I have been a successful mediator, for the last nine years. I have the highest settlement rate in the state when I mediate for the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH). I have a 70% settlement rate in my mediations for the DFEH and in my private mediations. I have also served as a Judge Pro Tem in the Superior Court.

The court needs judges with experience in Civil and Criminal Law. The court rotates new judges to a new area of law every year or so during the first five to ten years. I have broad experience. As a Deputy DA, I prosecuted important cases including child molest. I handled many of the calendars judges handle in the criminal courts; and worked in Dependency and Juvenile court. As a civil attorney, I have represented clients in many areas of civil law including: Labor and Employment Law; Family Law; Real Estate; Landlord/ Tenant; Personal Injury; Medical Malpractice; and Education Law.

30% of judges in Santa Clara County come directly from the District Attorney's Office, often with little or no civil experience. These judges are not only assigned to the criminal courts, they also handle cases in Family Law and other areas of civil law, where they have no experience.

The court needs judges who understand Labor and Employment Law. Only four judges in Santa Clara County came from a career in Labor and Employment Law. This is only about 4%. I have been a Labor and Employment attorney for nineteen years. I have obtained settlements over a million dollars and multimillion dollar settlements in class actions, discrimination and harassment cases.

The court needs diversity. Only a third of the judges are women. I can help bring diversity.

For more information please go to my website at http://www.dianeritchieforjudge.com, email dritchieandassociates@yahoo.com or phone 408 297-9909