Sex Crimes Prosecutor Attempts to Unseat Judge

RIVERSIDE - A Superior Court judge being challenged in his reelection bid today by a veteran prosecutor said voters should consider his ''breadth of experience'' before casting their ballots, but his opponent argued the county has been poorly served by the incumbent.

Riverside County voters will decide whether to elect Judge Craig Riemer to a second six-year term or give Deputy District Attorney John Henry a shot at the job. With the county Deputy District Attorneys' Association throwing its money and weight behind Henry, the primary contest has become a race to watch.

''This is about the ability of someone ... being able to buy a seat on the bench,'' Riemer said. ''The union represents all deputy D.A.s, and it has put up $50,000 in this race. No one spends that amount of money simply out of concern for good government. It's disturbing to think ... they can decide who is going to fill judicial slots.''

But according to Henry, the race has nothing to do with campaign contributions and everything to do with having a judge who is ''faithful to the law'' -- a standard that the prosecutor does not believe Riemer has met.

''One judge who doesn't understand the law or doesn't comprehend the significance of the cases before him is one too many,'' Henry said. ''There are problems that need to be rectified, and can be in this election.''

The 37-year-old father of two spent years prosecuting murder cases and now manages the D.A.'s Sexual Assault Child Abuse unit.

Riemer, 56, was appointed to the bench by then-Gov. Gray Davis in 2003.

''I've been doing this for 32 years,'' Riemer told CNS. ''Breadth of experience is important, though not as much as devotion to the rule of law. I believe a commitment to the community and a commitment to this process are vital to the position.''

The judge is assigned to the downtown Riverside Historic Courthouse, hearing mostly civil cases, which he acknowledges preferring. He blamed the RCDDA for putting him in a position of having to fend off a challenge.

''That union is a powerhouse. Most judicial campaigns cost 40 to 60 percent of what they're spending.''

The judge said he suspected a 2009 flap between him and RCDDA President Mike Hestrin over the union's efforts to secure a larger contract than what the county said it could afford led to support for a Henry candidacy.

Hestrin replied that Riemer was ''the worst judge on the bench,'' and there was no other reason for supporting Henry.

Henry stated that after hearing a litany of complaints about Riemer from fellow prosecutors, he decided to run.

''There were a lot of things I found disturbing, not just as a prosecutor, but as a citizen. Judges are in positions of power and have a responsibility to be faithful to the law. There are instances in which this judge has not been,'' Henry said.

To illustrate his point, he referred to a lengthy critique of Riemer by the RCDDA, which has created a web portal called ''The Case Against Judge Riemer,'' listing an array of purported acts of judicial imprudence.

The RCDDA has also leveled accusations of ethics breaches by Riemer, pointing out that the judge continued to preside in hearings on two lawsuits filed against the city of Norco at the same time he sought -- and got -- endorsements from Norco City Council members.

Riemer emphasized that he was only a case management judge, not adjudicating motions in any of the cases.

Henry, who has litigated two cases in Riemer's courtroom, said criticism of his opponent is justified.

''There's a stark comparison to be made here between me and the incumbent in this election,'' Henry said. ''My plank? Making sure we have a judge who understands the importance of public safety and holding criminals accountable for their actions.'' The judge said he has not hesitated to punish ''thousands'' of criminals and believes the community would continue to benefit from his ''training, experience and judgment.''