Rare Opportunity For Sacramento County Voters This Tuesday

With Tuesday's primary just three days away, Sacramento County voters will have the rare opportunity to vote for a Superior Court Judge.

While constitutionally, all Superior Court judges are to be elected to the bench, for practical purposes, the system is quite different. Here is the system that has evolved.

If a judge on the bench is up for reelection, unless they have an opponent they don't have to go on the ballot. In effect if there is no opposition, that judge is automatically "reelected" to another six year term.

Now lets take that same judge and suppose they retire or step down next January, instead of calling for a special election, the governor makes an appointment that must be vetted to fill out that term. Once on the bench, unless that new judge faces a challenger, the continue to serve.

In essence, once appointed to the bench, it becomes a de facto lifetime appointment which is why this Tuesday's election between challenger Keven Star and Judge Tami Bogert is a rarity.

Baring some major scandal or ethics lapse or voter outrage of some issue, think Rose Bird, attorney's practicing in a particular county are loath to challenge a judge if for no other reason they might have a trial before that judge or more likely, they will draw the ire of the entire group of judges in that county. Indeed, Bogert's campaign flyer claims to be endorsed by all fellow judges in Sacramento County.

So if you haven't already voted by mail, take a few minutes and check out who you will vote for in this rare opportunity.

Visit each of the candidates sites: kevenstar.com and JudgeBogert.com judgebogert.com/