Announcement Speech of Jacqueline Frederick

By Jacqueline Frederick

I am running for this position because I have a passion for the law and a passion for helping people.

I am running for this position because I have a passion for the law and a passion for helping people. For over twenty years, I have been a trial attorney and have represented thousands of people from all walks of life who have been victimized by wrongdoing, both criminal and civil. The focus of my practice has been on the victims and obtaining justice for them.

Injustice comes in all forms and presents itself in many insidious ways, whether the victim be a rape victim, a victim of fraud, a victim of a defective product, a wrongful death victim or a victim of discrimination or abuse--these are the people I have represented and for who I have sought redress.

My motivation to become an attorney and my career has been the opportunity to help people who are in need and going through the most arduous and trying times of their lives. It is this that enables me over twenty years later to say on a daily basis#I love what I do.

Today I want to talk about you and the important role you play in our justice system.

It is because of you that I seek this office. I am running to keep our Central Coast a safe and secure place to live and raise our families.

In America, we invest authority in our justice system to safeguard the unique liberties and freedom we enjoy...and have faith that our officers of the court will do their jobs wisely and well.

It is a responsibility I take seriously.

Recent events have spread the terror to even our smaller towns; Even here, we are not immune to evil. Thus it is important to ensure that those we elect to represent our values on the judicial bench are clear sighted, tough-minded, wise ministers of justice committed to guaranteeing the safety of our communities from every kind of terror and wrong.

Each of you, together, decide what justice is in America. Empowered by a vote, you shape and define justice by the choice you make over who presides over that system. You have the opportunity to decide whether judges should be "ivory tower" or involved members of the community who share our common sense outlook and everyday values.

Over the twenty years of my practice, I have witnessed a growing cynicism about our American Courts and justice system. There is a perception that justice is unattainable and that the victor is the one who can afford the lawyer who can best manipulate the facts, parse the truth, influence the jury, and in that way win a victory. The one person in the courtroom who can control that behavior is the judge#and that is exactly what I will do.

Clarence Darrow#one of our countries most famous trial attorneys, once said, "injustice is a hard word to define, but you know when you feel it". The Court is the place where people should feel welcome and have a sense of comfort in the integrity of our legal system, one that will ensure that justice is done.

We are particularly fortunate in this county to have ten very fine judges who work hard every day to improve our courts and who aspire to make this San Luis Obispo Superior Court the best Court in the State. I too aspire to work hard , to use my problem solving and administrative skills as well as my legal education , experience and courtroom skills to that end.

There is no time I am more proud to be a member of the American legal system than at this moment in history. As we are reminded how much the world still lives under tyranny, despotism, lawlessness and injustice...we take pride that the uniqueness , greatness and strength of America is that ours is a nation of laws.

Thanks to the vigilance of free , honorable, common sense citizens like all of you here today, we have created a justice system that is the envy of the world. I love being a lawyer and I know that I will love being a judge#as it is an extension of the public service to which I am committed. For those of you who know me, you know that I will work tirelessly to continue to pursue truth and justice, champion the rights of victims and their families and continue preserve the unique environment we enjoy on the Central Coast.

Law abiding citizens must be protected from criminal and civil wrongdoing, and as a judge I will ensure that every victim leaves my courtroom believing that there is justice in our legal system. And every guilty perpetrator will understand that the consequences of their conduct will result in the forfeiture of their right to live freely and enjoy the benefits of our society.

As a judge, I would continue to serve my profession and my community by setting a standard of conduct that will reflect positively on our legal profession and our system of government, a system that provides that fairness and justice are meted out to all citizens equally.

I am blessed with a wonderful supportive and exemplary family in my husband of 22 years Gary, our daughter Stacey and three sons, Christopher, Michael and William. I want to continue to serve the community in which I live as I have done for the past over eleven years as your newest judge on the Superior Court.

I thank you for your confidence in me.