Council won’t appoint judge to fill Vega’s municipal post

Erin Neff

Tuesday, March 9, 1999 | 10:38 a.m.

Because Friday's close of filing for the municipal election drew six local attorneys into the race for a vacancy on Municipal Court, the City Council on Monday decided it would be best not to rush into an appointment to the post.

By charter, the council is required to fill any vacancy on the court within 30 days. Valorie Vega's resignation from Department 4 to become a District Court judge took effect March 4. That allows the council to make its decision at its next meeting, in two weeks.

Last week, all four council members and Mayor Jan Laverty Jones interviewed Deputy District Attorney Craig Hendricks for the job. Deputy Public Defender Jessie Walsh was interviewed by a majority of the board.

However, none of the other attorneys who filed for election to the seat had gone through interviews with the council for an appointment. There is no formal process involved for an appointment to Municipal Court. Interested candidates simply sit down and talk with the mayor and councilmen.

"I have not had the opportunity to interview all who have filed," Councilman Arnie Adamsen said.

Appointment to the post can give a judicial candidate the edge of an incumbent in the May 4 primary.

Local attorney Bert Brown, one of the six candidates for the position, said he would prefer to let the voters decide Vega's successor.

However, in a letter to the council, Brown did say he would meet with them for interviews if the board was to make an appointment.