Commissioner, prosecutor, attorney for abused woman and children vying for judge’s seat
The three candidates running for the seat of retiring Judge Marie Silveira all have worked as prosecutors and had other careers prior to becoming attorneys.
Jared Carrillo started his career in public service as a 911 dispatcher at the age of 18. He worked in the position while he went to college and law school. He began his law career as a public defender, went on to be a prosecutor for 14 years, and now works at the Family Justice Center supervising a legal team that helps women and children escape abusive relationships.
“I now seek the opportunity to take all that experience … to the bench and be the person whose job it is to make sure the integrity of our justice system is maintained but most importantly to treat everyone fairly and with respect,” Carrillo said.
John R. Mayne worked as a journalist covering crime and courts, which inspired him to go to law school. He worked in civil law for three and a half years before becoming a prosecutor, a position he’s held for 19 years.
He said his experience in both civil and criminal law, including 65 jury trials in the latter, would help him make the transition easily into any assignment as a new judge.
“You can look at the endorsements I have gotten from the judges, from the prosecutors, from the defense attorneys, the people who know the system best have endorsed me, and I am the guy people go to for correct legal answers,” Mayne said.
Ken Hara already is working as a judge. He’s been a Stanislaus Superior Court commissioner, mostly overseeing child support cases, for nine years.
Before that, he worked for nine years as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s Office after a 10-year stint in the Navy.
“I am the best candidate to be your next judge because I have been doing the job for nine years … I have handled a variety of cases and I think I have handled them well,” he said.
During a forum at the The Modesto Bee last month, the candidates addressed issues like ethics, the future of the judicial system and a judge’s role in increasing efficiency.
All of the candidates said efficiency can increase by being prepared and expecting the same of the attorneys.
Mayne went on to suggest adding to the local rule regarding continuances to better spell out expectations and hold accountable attorneys who are not prepared. He said there should be language to address discovery failures by the District Attorney’s Office or lack of preparedness by any counsel. This local rule, which hasn’t been updated in 15 years, should also include a goal timeline for every type of case, Mayne said.
All of the candidates spoke to the experiences and values that would make them fair and impartial judges.
Hara said in his time overseeing child support cases he has to weigh the financial restrictions of one party over the needs of the other.
Mayne said he has taken over cases from other prosecutors and dismissed charges against defendants when they did not meet a particular legal threshold.
And Carrillo spoke to the advantage of working as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney, saying as a judge he’d want people to leave his courtroom thinking, “I may not win, but I’m walking away feeling that at least I got a fair hearing.”
This story was originally published February 7, 2020 at 11:22 AM.
