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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund

Smart Voter
Los Angeles County, CA June 3, 2008 Election
Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues
Judge, Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 4


The questions were prepared by the the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Qualifications, Reason for Running, Experiences and Personal Qualities

Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.


1. Please provide a brief list of your qualifications in bullet format, using an asterisk (*) to represent a bullet. (No more than 25 words for this section.)

Answer from Ralph W. Dau:

  • Judge of the Superior Court 1995-present
  • Rated "Exceptionally Well Qualified" for office of Judge of the Superior Court by Los Angeles County Bar Association
  • Attorney, O'Melveny & Myers 1966-1995 (partner from 1974), Chair of firm's Environmental Law Practice Group 1991-1995
  • LL.B. with Honors, The University of Texas School of Law 1966; elected to Order of the Coif
  • Comment Editor, Texas Law Review 1965-1966
  • United States Navy destroyer weapons officer 1959-1963

Answer from Sydnee R. "Syd" Singer:

  • TRIAL ATTORNEY - 19 YEARS

  • VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR-LOS ANGELES COUNTY
PROBATION DEPARTMENT

  • VOLUNTEER ARBITRATOR/MEDIATOR

  • VOLUNTEER AIDS PROJECT LA

  • AMERICAN BOARD OF TRIAL ADVOCATES


2. Why are you running for Superior Court judge? (No more than 75 words total for questions 2 and 3.)

Answer from Sydnee R. "Syd" Singer:

I want to have an impact on cases by making changes which ensure that litigants and/or attorneys are respected and their cases are fully heard by someone who cares that informed decisions are timely made with minimal expense to litigants and taxpayers.

Answer from Ralph W. Dau:

I want to continue serving the people of California as Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.


3. What experiences and personal qualities best equip you to serve as judge? (No more than 75 words total for questions 2 and 3.)

Answer from Ralph W. Dau:

I have served as a Superior Court Judge for 12+ years, presiding over 150+ criminal, civil, and probate trials, as well as managing a 300-case calendar, and deciding thousands of motions. Numerous appellate decisions affirm the quality of my decisions. The Los Angeles Daily Journal reported in its 1/5/06 edition that attorneys praise my integrity, thoroughness, painstaking research, graciousness, intelligence, and sense of humor.

Answer from Sydnee R. "Syd" Singer:

My public service, integrity, work-ethic, knowledge of the law, compassion, and judicial temperament, coupled with 19 years experience before hundreds of judges throughout southern California will enable me to be an exceptional judge.


Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Until 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2008, candidates for Superior Court Judge must limit their answers to 100 words total for all questions so that a paper Voters Guide may be published. Specific word limits are as follows: 25 words for question 1; 75 words total for questions 2 and 3. After 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2008, word limits will no longer apply.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.


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Created: July 31, 2008 13:32 PDT
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