Courthouse

By CAITLIN CONNELL
and BEN MAINS

This summer, Napa County Superior Court opened the doors of the judges’ chambers to local high school, college and law students, offering a new internship program so young people could see our judicial leaders at work.

So who are these figures we place on pillars of judicial authority, these robed rock-stars of reason? Here is what we, this year’s interns, discovered.

Our judges are not unfeeling computers. They are empathetic people, tuned in to who we are and what we stand for as a community. Though justice may be blind, the men and women at the court have their eyes wide open!

As the court’s presiding judge, Raymond Guadagni may intimidate at first. However, the fear quickly dissipates. How can you fear a judge who gives out teddy bears during adoption ceremonies or bakes cakes for jurors?

Often next to Judge Guadagni is the sharp deputy Scott Spain, the bailiff who escorts interns past the bar, beyond which few are allowed to travel, to the back hallways and Judge Guadagni’s chambers.

Judge Diane Price presides over criminal cases with an unwavering gavel. We observed Judge Price direct a sentencing hearing in which two brilliant women argued — Napa County Deputy District Attorney Allison Hayley and Deputy Public Defender Kris Keeley. The sight of three powerful women at work was inspirational, and illustrated how the legal profession welcomes anyone with the discipline to follow its path.

Judge Francisca Tisher provides another strong female presence, managing a variety of civil suits and mediations. Watching her mediate a family dispute or medical malpractice conflict is like sitting courtside at an athletic match. Further, her uplifting sense of humor and willingness to share her knowledge kept the interns knocking on her chamber doors.

Before meeting Judge Stephen Kroyer, one can attain a sense of his reputation for perfection from the secretaries who sing the praises of working with such an organized jurist. We also enjoyed Kroyer’s command of the courtroom, where his every word was meticulously and eloquently selected to clarify his interpretation of the law.

Judge Rodney Stone’s watchful eyes oversee all types of criminal matters. On Monday he might zip through arraignments, On Friday, he’d dig through a trial schedule. It can be a confusing whirlwind, but his enthusiasm, and that of his bailiff, deputy John Accardo, shines through.

Mark Boessenecker is Napa’s newest judge. We had little chance to watch him work, as he has been at California’s Judicial College preparing for life on the bench after 18 years of prosecuting criminal matters in Napa and San Mateo counties.

Commissioners Monique Langhorne-Johnson and Michael Williams fill out the bench. Commissioner Langhorne-Johnson impressively glided into her position before her 32nd birthday. Presiding over misdemeanors, her youth is an asset: she is approachable and relates well to those who appear before her.

Commissioner Williams’ journey to the court was also unusual. Changing career paths left him with an unflinching optimism regarding the law. Even after a day resolving divorces and child custody battles, Commissioner Williams halted his calendar to answer all of our questions.

Retired Judges Donald Fretz and Philip Champlin shared their wisdom while serving, as they frequently do, in an active role.

Judge Champlin may be found calmly guiding family law or juvenile cases to successful conclusions. Judge Fretz will let nothing keep him away from the court every Friday, juggling mediations and refereeing multi-million-dollar quarrels.

The internship program would not be so rewarding without tireless Neil Bowman-Davis and Tammy Glathe. As the family law facilitator, Bowman-Davis is booked, but he always had time to dispense nuggets of wisdom and decompress after a busy day. Glathe, the program manager, has a well-earned reputation for perfection and dedication.

This human side of the court is something we too often miss, shielded by the pomp and circumstance of black robes, complex procedure and legal language. But students now have the opportunity to peek behind the scenes and discover how incredible these people really are, and how the court really operates.

For more information about the court’s continuing internship program, contact the Court Executive Office at 299-1110.

Courthouse Corner appears on the second Tuesday of each month. Information in the column is provided by Napa County Superior Court.

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