John Chiv: "While the election for Judge doesn't receive the same fanfare as the race race for District Attorney or Supervisor, it is nonetheless critical to the community."

Mar 21, 2022

"While the election for Judge doesn't receive the same fanfare as the race race for District Attorney or Supervisor, it is nonetheless critical to the community."

(David Celli, Kelly Neel, Ben McLaughlin and Elan Firpo)

(Elan Firpo, Michael Evenson and Kelly Neel)

I did a post on March 17 about Deputy Public Defender Ben McLaughlin's official campaign kickoff which is happening right now. In the same post, tI mentioned a "Meet the candidate" event at the Humboldt Bay Social Club this evening. Judge Christopher Wilson is retiring and Ben is one of the candidates running for that seat.

Former Deputy District Attorney and private attorney Elan Firpo introduced him. Other remarks prior to Ben's speech were from Humboldt County Public Defender Luke Brownfield and Fortuna Councilmember Mike Losey.

40 people are here including Assistant Deputy District Attorney Stacey Eads, Chief DA Investigator Kyla Baxley, deputy district attorneys, several law enforcement and DA investigators, private attorneys and public defenders.

In her introduction, Ms. Firpo said, "Judge McLaughlin" will be ready from day 1 to sit on the bench, in any courtroom, to hear any type of case.

"We don't need someone on the bench who just got here, we need people who know us and our local issues, said Ms. Firpo" A refrence to Ben's opponent, Deputy District Attorney Steve Steward.

Ben has spoken at events hosted by the GOP, Eureka Police Officers Association and Humboldt County Deputy Sheriff's Organization and Humboldt Democratic Central Committee.

Only a Redwood News reporter and I are here.

Ben's speech:

"I WANT TO START BY THANKING EVERYONE WHO TOOK TIME OUT OF THEIR DAYS TO BE HERE. IT IS TRULY HUMBLING AND I APPRECIATE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU."

"I ALSO WANT TO THANK MY AMAZING CAMPAIGN TEAM, WHO REALLY STEPPED UP WHILE I WAS IN TRIAL OVER THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS: ELAN FIRPO, MIKE EVENSON, KATE HICKS, AND DAVID CELLI. "

"WHILE I WAS SITTING WITH CLIENTS, PROTECTING THEIR RIGHTS AT TRIAL, YOU ALL WERE OUT DOING SOCIAL MEDIA, PLACING SIGNS, AND GETTING THE WORD OUT. YOU GUYS ARE WONDERFUL AND I’M TRULY BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH GREAT FRIENDS."

"IT IS ALSO NICE TO SEE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT POLITICAL POSITIONS COME TOGETHER TODAY TO SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN."

"WHILE THE ELECTION FOR JUDGE DOESN’T RECEIVE THE SAME FANFARE AS THE RACE FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY OR SUPERVISOR, IT IS NONETHELESS CRITICAL TO THE COMMUNITY."

"JUDGE CHRISTOPHER WILSON IS RETIRING, AND, WITH HIM, 30-YEARS OF JUDICIAL AND LEGAL EXPERIENCE. "

"THE QUESTIONS VOTERS MUST ANSWER ARE:

WHICH CANDIDATE FOR JUDGE IS MOST QUALIFIED TO FILL THE VOID LEFT BY JUDGE WILSON?

WHICH CANDIDATE HAS DONE THE HOMICIDE TRIALS, THE RAPE TRIALS, THE “THREE STRIKES” TRIALS NECESSARY TO DEVELOP THE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE JUDGE?

WHICH CANDIDATE HAS DEMONSTRATED A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY SAFETY BY ASKING FOR, AND RECEIVING, LIFE SENTENCES FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS?"

"I CAN LOOK ALL OF YOU IN THE EYE AND SAY THAT I HAVE 23 YEARS EXPERIENCE AS AN ATTORNEY, 17 YEARS OF WHICH WERE SPENT IN CRIMINAL COURT AND I HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS."

"OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS, I HAVE PRACTICED BOTH AS A PROSECUTOR AND AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY. "

"THE FOLKS HERE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THE THREE FORMER CHIEFS OF POLICE WHO CHOSE TO ENDORSE ME SPEAK TO MY TIME AS A PROECUTOR. THEY CAN TELL YOU HOW SERIOUSLY I TAKE COMMUNITY SAFETY."

"THERE ARE ALSO A NUMBER OF FOLKS HERE FROM THE DEFENSE BAR, WHO CAN TELL YOU HOW SERIOUSLY I TAKE THE PROTECTION OF A DEFENDANT’S DUE PROCESS RIGHTS."

"AND I TAKE EQUAL PRIDE IN THE WORK I’VE DONE AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, MAKING SURE THAT MY CLIENTS ARE TREATED FAIRLY AND WITH RESPECT."

"I TAKE A LOT OF SATISFACTION IN WORKING TO GET VETERANS WITH SERVICE RELATED MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TIED IN TO SERVICES AND THE HELP THEY SO DESPARATELY NEED."

"I TAKE A LOT OF SATISFACTION IN HOLDING THE PROSECUTION TO ITS BURDEN OF PROOF AT TRIAL, WHERE THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IS ATTEMPTING TO DEPRIVE SOMEONE OF HIS OR HER LIBERTY. "

"THE TWO POSITIONS, YOU SEE, ARE NOT INCOMPATIBLE—COMMUNITY SAFETY AND RESPECT FOR DUE PROCESS."

"IN THE HUNDRED OR SO TRIALS I’VE DONE, WHETHER AS A PROSECUTOR OR AS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY, I HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED THE PROCESS AND HAVE ALWAYS RESPECTED THE PARITES. "

"COMMUNITY SAFETY. RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS AND THE PARTIES. THESE ARE THE CORNERSTONES OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. "

"COMMUNITY SAFETY. RESPECT FOR THE PROCESS AND THE PARTIES. THESE ARE BOTH PROFOUNDLY IMPORTANT AND NECESSARY AND WILL INFORM HOW I CONDUCT MYSELF AS A JUDGE."

"I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THIS ELECTION AND FOR YOUR VOTE ON JUNE 7TH."

"THANK YOU."

Press Release:

Ben McLaughlin will host a Campaign Kick-off for the seat vacated by Judge Chris Wilson this Monday, March 21, 12:15 PM on the Plaza at the Foot of F Street, Eureka. Later Monday afternoon, McLaughlin hosts a “Meet The Candidate” social from 5:30-7:30 at the Humboldt Bay Social Club, 900 New Navy Base Rd, Samoa. Food will be provided by the Manzanilla Food Truck.

A McKinleyville resident, McLaughlin has 23 years’ experience, equally divided as a civil litigation attorney, Prosecutor in the DA’s Office, and Deputy Public Defender making him the most prepared on day one to conduct trials in all departments. McLaughlin is supported by former District Attorney Paul Gallegos along with current Public Defender Luke Brownfield and a host of others of all political persuasions, from Fortuna Councilmember Mike Losey to retired Police Chiefs of Arcata and Eureka, Chapman and Watson.

“This community deserves a Superior Court Judge with the depth and breadth of experience that I bring to the Bench. It takes experience to understand the needs of the community and the ways in which to hold offenders accountable. There are times when an offender must go to prison, just as there are times offenders ought to have the opportunity to rehabilitate within our community. It takes experience to understand those differences.”

According to former Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Tobias Hasler, “During my time opposing him as an advocate, he brought common sense, humility, and a respect for all participants in our local criminal justice system to court every day.”

Isabel French of Hydesville added, “Ben McLaughlin has excellent judgement and I wholeheartedly support his bid for Humboldt County judge. When our aging father’s mental health issues resulted in unsafe behavior and serious legal problems, Mr. McLaughlin did all he could to get him the treatment he so needed. Mr. McLaughlin is kind and good and we are forever grateful for everything he did for our family.

Previous posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/03/ben-mclaughlin-formal-campaign-kickoff.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/03/deputy-public-defender-ben-mclaughlin.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/02/ben-mclaughlins-formal-campaign-kickoff.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/01/ben-mclaughlins-candidate-statement-is.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/01/ben-mclaughlin-and-steven-steward.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/11/guess-who-is-running-for-judge-wilsons.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/02/deputy-da-steven-steward-official.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/01/since-2017-i-have-served-people-of.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/01/i-commit-to-being-judge-that-is-fair-to.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/01/ben-mclaughlin-and-steven-steward.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2021/12/steven-steward-for-judge-according-to.html?m=1