League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Steven R. "Steve" Pogue Answers Questions Candidate for Judge - Superior Court; County of Santa Clara; Office 7

The questions were prepared by the Leagues of Women Voters of Santa Clara County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. As a judge, you may be called on to impose sentences for crimes ranging from misdemeanors to homicide. While there are sentencing parameters and guidelines, you will have latitude. What factors and principles/values will affect your decisions?

I would consider, among any other statutory mitigating or aggravating factors that might present themselves in any individual case:
1. The age and criminal history of the offender.
2. The future potential for danger to society.
3. The future potential for rehabilitation of the offender.
4. The harm caused by the offender's conduct.
5. Remorse or lack thereof.
6. Restitution or lack thereof.
7. Level of participation of the offender (in multiple defendant cases)

2. Please describe your experience in civil and criminal cases.

I have tried hundreds of Family Law Matters, ranging from brief hearings to full-scale multi-day trials on every possible issue in that spectrum, including domestic violence issues (seeking and defending) child custody and visitation, child and spousal support, parentage, complex property division issues, pensions, deferred compensation and stock options, and settled countless such cases.

I have represented plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury matters in hundreds of matters, obtaining settlements for injured persons where appropriate and defending claims where appropriate.

I have represented home buyers against brokers and defended brokers against claims, homeowners against contractors and contractors against customers, tenants against landlords and landlords against tenants.

I have probated dozens of decedents' estates, established dozens of conservatorships, guardianships and adoptions, and prepared approximately 400 estate plans (Wills and/or Trusts.)

The Superior Court has seven divisions. They are Criminal, Civil, Family, Probate, Traffic, Juvenile and Small Claims. I have appeared in all seven. I have done felony jury trials, felony and misdemeanor court trials, civil jury and court trials, appeared in the federal civil, criminal and bankruptcy courts, in the California Courts of Appeal and the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal.

3. Would you propose any changes to assure that there is no appearance of bias in the courtroom including, but not limited to, bias based on disability, gender identity, age, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation?

I do not believe that changes are needed in this county as I believe that not only are the courts fair, but they also work very hard to ensure that they are perceived as fair. If anything, I would work to make sure that people understood the process, as I see that as the key to the perception of having been treated fairly.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. Word limits for answers are 400 words for all questions. Direct references to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: April 20, 2012 14:42
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