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By Miriam Raftery
May 25, 2014 (San Diego) Campaign signs posted by Ken Gosselin’s judicial campaign are raising ethical questions In large letters, the words Judge Gosselin are displayed. Nearly invisible to motorists and passersby, the word “for” in small italics is also present on the signs.
Gosselin, a candidate for Superior Court Judge seat 25, has previously worked as a temporary judge pro tem handling traffic and small claims court cases. He is currently not listed on the Superior Court’s roster of judges pro tem and has stated he is on leave due to the campaign. However, judicial candidates by law are not allowed to call themselves judges, even if the candidate is currently serving as a judge pro tem.
Michael Orfield, the retired Presiding Judge on the San Diego Municipal Court, has told KPBS that Gosselin’s campaign engaged in “misrepresentation” by falsely implying he is a judge. Orfield added that California Rules of Court, Rule 2.811 (c) specifically makes it clear that no employment relationship is established by being a judge pro tem.
The campaign signs also claim that Gosselin is “law enforcement’s choice.” In fact, the law enforcement community has split its support, with both Gosselin and one of his opponents, Brad Weinreb, each claiming significant endorsements from law enforcement.
Weinreb, currently Deputy Attorney General, is endorsed by Sheriff Bill Gore, the San Diego County Probation Officers Association, and the San Diego Deputy District Attorney’s Association, as well as former San Diego Police Chief David Bejerano.
Gosselin’s endorsements , according to his website, include the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of San Diego County, the Fraternal Order of Police, San Diego, and police officers’ associations from National City and Oceanside.
Gosselin has been the center of ethical questions since his opponent filed a legal challenge to Gosselin’s claims about his education and experience, as ECM reported. A court stipulation required Gosselin to change his ballot statement. He claimed to be Harvard trained but merely took a mediation course there. He also claimed extensive experience hearing criminal and civil cases, when his experience was limited to small claims and traffic caes.
Gosselin has also been rated lacking qualifications by the County Bar Association.
The third candidate in the race, Michele Hagan, is a former prosecutor and judge pro tem, certified fraud examiner and legal analyst for major media outlets; she also provides legal tips to the public on her Trial Ready website.
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