Scandals of Jerry’s Judges’ could ruin White House bid

Press, 21 November 1979, Page 19

Scandals of Jerry’s Judges’ could ruin White House bid

While Governor Jerry Brown was promising in Washington to provide America with “new leadership,’’ Californian voters were shaking heads over

the latest twists in the bizarre case of “Jerry’s Judges.” Scandals involving Browm’s appointees to the bench have become a

major political embarrassment for the 41-year-old Governor, raising questions about his judgment just as he launches his Presidential bid. Californians have seen one judge “busted” for possession of 323 marijuana plants, another under investigation for alleged ties to the “Mexican mafia,” a third accused of making obscene phone calls, a fourth of passing bad cheques. An unprecedented 10 Brown nominees for judicial office were rejected by voters, and the State Supreme Court was thrown into disarray by a bitter feud whirling around Brown’s Chief Justice. Rose Bird. “Boy, can Jerry pick ’em,” said one Republican State Senator. “His appointees have fouled up our Supreme Court, caused a $510,000 inquiry, and made a laughing stock of the best appelate court in the country.” “Nonsense,” responds Governor Brown’s legal affairs chief, Anthony Kline. “The Governor has put more women and minority people on the bench than any chief executive in State history. It’s his proudest achievement.” When Brown, himself a lawyer, won re-election a year ago, he set out to administer a sharp jolt to California’s stuffy, white male-dominated legal establishment.

First, the legal community’s feathers were ruffled by the selection of his friend. Miss Bird, a lawyer with no previous Appeals Court experience, as the State’s first woman Chief Justice. Then scores of blacks. Hispanics, and liberal American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawyers were made judges. Most controversial was Brown’s appointment last month of Gay Rights activist Steven Sachs, who had previously served only as a juvenile court commissioner, to the L.A. Superior Court. Sachs, 39,

By

WILLIAM

SCOBIE,

■‘Observer.” London

became the nation’s first openly homosexual judge. Among Brown’s ACLU judges was Mr Paul Halvonik, 40 appointed in spite of a 1974 brush with the law over marijuana possession. A single cigarette was involved. No charges were brought. Now, Judge Halvonik has serious -pot problems. He pleaded not guilty to charges of growing 323 pot plants in his Oakland home. Police say they were discovered when officers responded to a burglary call. Mrs Deborah Halvonik, 37. was also charged but refused a court offer to allow her to join a drug

programme which would have let her off the legal hook. Why? Because the programme included “marriage counselling” and wasn’t offered to her husband. ‘‘Blatant sexism,” sniffed Mrs Halvonik, also a practising attorney. “I don’t want to be taught how to be a faithful wife.” Mr Halvonik didn't improve matters by pronouncing possession to be “a minor violation — of no greater concern to me than serving wine to a 19-year-old for dinner.” Both Halvoniks face dis-

barment and a severe jail sentence if convicted. The “sex calls” case involves Judge Robert Stevens, a 63-year-old grandfather, who is accused by four State employees of harassing them with obscene messages. One woman taped the alleged calls and has played the recording to an official inquiry team. Judge Stevens admits making what he describes as “sexually explicit” calls to a young black couple, man and wife, but denies his languag" was offensive

Of graver import in the legal community is the storm over Justice Bird.

She and her allies on the Supreme Court were charged with deliberately withholding controversial, liberal decisions until after Election Day last year to ensure her confirmation in office.

An 11 -month-long official inquiry, which cost taxpayers $510,000 concluded that no charges were required. That verdict, reached in secret and with no explanation to the public, has failed to clear the air. Conservative judges complain that the Supreme Court, in the months of infighting among Reaganan d Brow n-appointed judges, has become a target of national ridicule. Brown’s political opponents say gleefully that he will pay a heavy price for “playing politics with the legal system” and “passing over senior men” to court minority votes.

The Governor’s friends feel his Presidential chances, never strong, have been dealt a further blow. Observers predict that in next January’s important Presidential straw vote at California’s Democratic convention he will lose not only to Senator Edward Kennedy, but may well run third to President

Carter. “At least,” said one Calif o rn i a Assemblyman, “Jerry’s sewn up the dopers’ vote.”

This 6.5 mm gauge model railway engine fits into a nutshell and is selling like hot cakes, so much so that its manufacturer in West Germany can barely keep up with demand. Market research reveals that men aged 25 to 50 are the keenest model railwaymen; 20,000 are members of the mini-gauge club. What is novel about this smallest gauge in the world is that engines and stock can roll in a drawer, cupboard, or even round a coffee table.