A Study of Campaign Contributions
to the California Judiciary

April 1998 Association for
California Tort Reform


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Sources of Contributions
Reported in Contested Superior Court Elections and Appellate Retention Elections 1993-1996
Counties of Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco,
Second Appellate District


Combined County Totals -- Superior Courts:

Combined County Average Dollars Contributed Per Race -- Superior Courts:

Appellate Court Contributions


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Los Angeles County Judicial Contributions
Summary Data

All information was received from the registrar-recorder's office of Los Angeles county:

  1. In 1994, there were seven contested superior court races:

  2. There were nine additional contested municipal races in 1994.

  3. In 1996, there were six contested superior court races:

  4. There were ten additional contested municipal races in 1996.

  5. Municipal court candidates are not required to file campaign statements with the Secretary of State. However, the reports may be available with the clerk of the county.

  6. Contributions are determined for the two year period prior to and including the election year.

  7. In cases where there were more than 2 candidates and the primary did not result in a winner, the candidates in the general election are identified.

The following contains the results from the races of the various seats.

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Los Angeles Judges 1994 Election Results


1994
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 1
Primary Election -- Aviva Bobb (Incumbent) v. Write in Candidate
Aviva Bobb- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Aviva Bobb Write in Candidate

Total Contributors

118 Contribution report not available

Attorney Contributors

64  

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

42  

Other Attorney Contributors

22  

Non-Attorney Contributors

54  

Dollars Contributed
  Aviva Bobb Write in Candidate

Total Contribution Dollars

$30,064 n/a

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$7,975  

Other Attorney Dollars

$3,925  

Non-Attorney Dollars

$8,375  

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$8,779  

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$1,010  


1994
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 2
Open Seat
Primary Election -- John Moriarity, Terry Friedman, Robert Schirn
General Election -- John Moriarity, Terry Friedman
Terry Friedman -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Moriarity Friedman Schirn

Total Contributors

403 523 11

Attorney Contributors

152 262 1

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

91 145 0

Other Attorney Contributors

61 117 1

Non-Attorney Contributors

251 261 10

Dollars Contributed
  Moriarity Friedman Schirn

Total Contribution Dollars

$234,097 $262,954 $12,900

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$24,048 $47,350 0

Other Attorney Dollars

$8,900 $32,130 $100

Non-Attorney Dollars

$69,323 $85,186 $1,800

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$3,645 $6,463 0

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$128,181 $91,825 $11,000


1994
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 4
Open Seat
Primary Election -- Samuel Rubino, Teri Schwartz, Thomas Parrott
General Election -- Teri Schwartz, Thomas Parrott
Teri Schwartz -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Rubino Schwartz Parrott

Total Contributors

no contribution report available contribution report not filed with the Sec. of State 161

Attorney Contributors

56

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

30

Other Attorney Contributors

26

Non-Attorney Contributors

105

Dollars Contributed
 Rubino Schwartz Parrott

Total Contribution Dollars

n/a $70,075 $92,191

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$2,500 $8,199

Other Attorney Dollars

$3,725 $3,526

Non-Attorney Dollars

$850 $18,410

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

0 $7,281

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$63,000 $54,775



1994
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 23
Open Seat
Primary Election -- Ronald Hauptman v. Marlene Kristovich
Marlene Kristovich -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Ronald Hauptman Marlene Kristovich

Total Contributors

123 1

Attorney Contributors

74  

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

33  

Other Attorney Contributors

41  

Non-Attorney Contributors

49  

Dollars Contributed
  Ronald Hauptman Marlene Kristovich

Total Contribution Dollars

$30,919 $176,093

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$4,808  

Other Attorney Dollars

$5,817  

Non-Attorney Dollars

$8,622  

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$3,672  

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$8,000 $176,093


1994
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 39
Open Seat
Primary Election -- Charles Fleishman v. Ronald Coen
Ronald Coen -- Winner

Number of Contributors

Charles Fleishman Ronald Coen

Total Contributors

1 250

Attorney Contributors

113

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

29

Other Attorney Contributors

84

Non-Attorney Contributors

137

Dollars Contributed
  Charles Fleishman Ronald Coen

Total Contribution Dollars

$31,369 $116,703

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

0 $9,625

Other Attorney Dollars

0 $10,950

Non-Attorney Dollars

0 $18,465

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

0 $5,163

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$31,369 $72,500


1994
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 51
Primary Election -- Stuart Hirsh v. Irving Shimer (Incumbent)
Irving Shimer -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Stuart Hirsh Irving Shimer

Total Contributors

10 248

Attorney Contributors

6 113

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

4 78

Other Attorney Contributors

2 35

Non-Attorney Contributors

4 135

Dollars Contributed
  Stuart Hirsh Irving Shimer

Total Contribution Dollars

$4,500 $109,022

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$400 $19,525

Other Attorney Dollars

$200 $7,900

Non-Attorney Dollars

$400 $24,050

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

0 $6,447

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$3,500 $51,100


1994
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 93
Open Seat
Primary Election -- D. Barnett, G. Einstein, S. Bryant-Deason, M. Block, J. Schock
General Election -- S. Bryant-Deason v. M. Block
Susan Bryant-Deason -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Barnett Einstein Bryant-Deason Block Schock

Total Contributors

3

contribution report not available

did not file with the S.O.S.

479 4

Attorney Contributors

2

346 2

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

1

160 1

Other Attorney Contributors

1

186 1

Non-Attorney Contributors

1

133 2

Dollars Contributed
  Barnett Einstein Bryant-Deason Block Schock

Total Contribution Dollars

$18,850 n/a $132,09 8 $180,341 $21,443

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$150     $30,225 $100

Other Attorney Dollars

$100     $26,098 $100

Non-Attorney Dollars

$100     $16,750 $250

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

0   $132,09 8 $11,276 0

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$18,500     $95,992 $20,993

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Los Angeles Judges 1996 Election Results

1996
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 3
Primary Election -- Frederick Wapner (Incumbent) v. Write in Candidate
Frederick Wapner -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Frederick Wapner Write in Candidate

Total Contributors

153 contribution report not available

Attorney Contributors

40  

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

16  

Other Attorney Contributors

24  

Non-Attorney Contributors

113  

Dollars Contributed
  Frederick Wapner Write in Candidate

Total Contribution Dollars

$61,257 n/a

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$3,250  

Other Attorney Dollars

$3,775  

Non-Attorney Dollars

$17,725  

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$10,307  

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$26,200  


1996
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 18
Open Seat
Primary Election -- Ronald Smith, Ronald Sohigian, Charles Lindner
General Election -- Ronald Smith v. Ronald Sohigian
Ronald Sohigian -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Ronald Smith Ronald Sohigian Charles Lindner

Total Contributors

68 435 29

Attorney Contributors

51 180 28

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

40 112 13

Other Attorney Contributors

11 68 15

Non-Attorney Contributors

17 255 1

Dollars Contributed
  Ronald Smith Ronald Sohigian Charles Lindner

Total Contribution Dollars

$109,665 $160,472 $5,282

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$8,650 $28,400 $2,350

Other Attorney Dollars

$2,325 $10,050 $2,300

Non-Attorney Dollars

$2,650 $44,243 $100

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$1,050 $8,280 $400

Contributions (Loans) to Self

$94,990 $69,499 $132


1996
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 25
Primary Election -- F.B. Mooney v. Michael Luros
Michael Luros -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  F.B. Mooney Michael Luros

Total Contributors

92 231

Attorney Contributors

15 122

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

5 79

Other Attorney Contributors

10 43

Non-Attorney Contributors

77 109

Dollars Contributed
  F.B. Mooney
Michael Luros

Total Contribution Dollars

$15,247 $97,275

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$500 $9,400

Other Attorney Dollars

$800 $16,750

Non-Attorney Dollars

$8,120 $23,159

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$1,670 $6,316

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$4,157 $41,650


1996
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 39
Primary Election -- Kenneth Griffin v. Reginald Dunn
Reginald Dunn -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Kenneth Griffin Reginald Dunn

Total Contributors

no contribution report available 170

Attorney Contributors

56

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

39

Other Attorney Contributors

17

Non-Attorney Contributors

114

Dollars Contributed
  Kenneth Griffin Reginald Dunn

Total Contribution Dollars

n/a $42,111

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$11,935

Other Attorney Dollars

$3,145

Non-Attorney Dollars

$16,770

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$10,261

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

0


1996
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT -- OFFICE 58
Primary Election -- Pat Murphy, Karl Jaeger, Stephen Marcus
General Election -- Pat Murphy v. Karl Jaeger
Karl Jaeger -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Murphy Jaeger Marcus

Total Contributors

58 407 80

Attorney Contributors

19 158 27

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

9 102 14

Other Attorney Contributors

10 56 13

Non-Attorney Contributors

39 249 53

Dollars Contributed
  Murphy Jaeger Marcus

Total Contribution Dollars

$80,156 $167,045 $50,843

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$2,900 $22,273 $3,470

Other Attorney Dollars

$2,500 $7,301 $1,470

Non-Attorney Dollars

$17,883 $42,349 $8,880

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$5,050 $8,872 $9,003

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$51,823 $86,250 $28,020


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San Francisco County Judicial Contributions
Summary Data

All information was received from the elections division of San Francisco county
:
  1. All judges running for election or re-election in 1994 ran uncontested. Therefore, the names were not on the ballot and they were automatically elected as of the election date.

  2. In the 1996 election, there were two contested superior court races.

  3. Contributions are determined for the two year period prior to and including the election year.

  4. There was one contested municipal court race, judge Kay Tsenin ran against Matt Rothchild.
San Francisco Judges 1996 Election Results

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1996
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Primary Election -- Kevin McCarthy v. Douglas Moore Jr. (Inc.)
Kevin McCarthy -- Winner


Number of Contributors
  Kevin McCarthy Douglas Moore Jr.

Total Contributors

356 382

Attorney Contributors

178 279

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

96 259

Other Attorney Contributors

82 20

Non-Attorney Contributors

178 103

Dollars Contributed
  Kevin McCarthy Douglas Moore Jr.

Total Contribution Dollars

$98,633 $107,064

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$15,675 $40,500

Other Attorney Dollars

$12,400 $2,874

Non-Attorney Dollars

$32,833 $16,375

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$10,925 $2,315

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$26,800 $45,000



1996
SAN FRANCISCO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Primary Election -- Lillian Sing (Inc.) v. Write-in Candidate
Lillian Sing -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Lillian Sing Write-in Candidate

Total Contributors

18 contribution report not available

Attorney Contributors

0  

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

0  

Other Attorney Contributors

0  

Non-Attorney Contributors

18  

Dollars Contributed    
  Lillian Sing Write-in Candidate

Total Contribution Dollars

$5,665 n/a

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

0  

Other Attorney Dollars

0  

Non-Attorney Dollars

$4,790  

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$875  

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

0  

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San Diego County Judicial Contributions
Summary Data

All information was received from the registrar of voters for San Diego county:
  1. In 1994, there were 2 contested superior court races:

  2. In 1994, there were no contested municipal court races.

  3. In 1996, there were no superior court seats contested.

  4. In 1996, there were 2 contested municipal court races.

  5. Contributions are determined for the two year period prior to and including the election year.

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San Diego Judges 1994 Election Results

1994
SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Primary Election -- Joe O. Littlejohn (Incumbent) v. David Tiffany
Joe O. Littlejohn -- Winner


Number of Contributors
  Joe O. Littlejohn David Tiffany

Total Contributors

127 contribution report not available

Attorney Contributors

30  

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

17  

Other Attorney Contributors

13  

Non-Attorney Contributors

97  

Dollars Contributed
  Joe O. Littlejohn David Tiffany

Total Contribution Dollars

$27,439 n/a

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$1,700  

Other Attorney Dollars

$1,500  

Non-Attorney Dollars

$12,925  

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$8,014  

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$3,300  


1994
SAN DIEGO COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
Joan Weber (Inc.) v. Dennis Leffert
Joan Weber -- Winner

Number of Contributors
  Joan Weber Dennis Leffert

Total Contributors

87 contribution report not available

Attorney Contributors

10  

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

9  

Other Attorney Contributors

1  

Non-Attorney Contributors

77  

Dollars Contributed
  Joan Weber Dennis Leffert

Total Contribution Dollars

$18,236 n/a

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$1,230  

Other Attorney Dollars

$100  

Non-Attorney Dollars

$4,458  

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$4,079  

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$8,369  

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Sacramento County Judicial Contributions
Summary Data

All information was received from the elections division of Sacramento county:

  1. All judges running for election or re-election in 1994 & 1996 ran uncontested. Therefore, the names did not appear on the ballot & they were declared the winner as of the election date.

  2. According to the Secretary of State's Political reform division, there are no contribution reports on any of the judges for Sacramento county.

  3. Sacramento County voter registration and elections division states that not one of the judges in the last 6 years ran opposed. Consequently, they probably did not raise money and therefore did not file with the Secretary of State.

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Supreme Court and Appellate Courts
Summary Data

  1. According to the Secretary of State's office, contribution reports were not filed for any of the California Supreme Court justices in the last four years.

  2. The numbers of justices that stood for retention elections in 1994 are as follows:

    Supreme Court Justices   3

    First Appellate District   11

    Second Appellate District   16

    Third Appellate District   3

    Fourth Appellate District   9

    Fifth Appellate District   3

    Sixth Appellate District   3


  3. In 1996, Supreme Court and appellate court justices did not stand for retention because it was not a gubernatorial election year.

  4. Contributions to the Second Appellate District justices were received via the 'Committee to Retain Appellate Justices'. The committee was controlled by all the justices standing for retention.

  5. According to the Secretary of State's Political Reform Division, the candidates received equal portions of the total contributions to the controlled committee. The amount reported on each justice's campaign disclosure statement is the same as the total received by the committee.
    Consequently, every appellate justice's campaign disclosure statement is identical.

  6. There were no contributions reported to any of the candidates in the 1st or 3rd appellate districts.


1994
SECOND DISTRICT APPELLATE COURT
Retention Elections
Committee to Retain Appellate Justices


Number of Contributors
  Committee Total

Total Contributors

160

Attorney Contributors

115

Plaintiff Attorney Contributors

47

Other Attorney Contributors

68

Non-Attorney Contributors

45

Dollars Contributed
  Committee Total

Total Contribution Dollars

$129,181

Plaintiff Attorney Dollars

$45,475

Other Attorney Dollars

$38,750

Non-Attorney Dollars

$17,800

Money Contributed without ID
(less than $100)

$475

Contributions (loans) from Self/ Family

$26,681

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