League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Eric Harmon Answers Questions Candidate for Judge of the Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 114

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What experiences and personal qualities best equip you to serve as judge?

I have been in public service my entire professional career and find it incredibly rewarding. I would like to take my experience as an advocate in the courtroom and put it to good use at the next level of decision making: the bench. While I have loved representing the People and helping victims, the bench is where I see myself doing the most good for the community. My experience in the courtroom has taught me to respect the many smart, fair, and firm judicial officers on the Los Angeles County Superior Court bench. Following their lead, I take seriously the responsibility of staying current on the law and I am committed to evaluating testimony in a fair and impartial fashion. My courtroom experience has taught me the necessity of treating all participants with respect and the necessity of ruling swiftly and decisively after full participation by the litigants. In addition to possessing the necessary experience, I have witnessed the demeanor and temperament of dozens of excellent Superior Court judges and I believe that I share their temperament. I am proud of my reputation and relationships throughout the legal community, amongst prosecutors, judges, court reporters, interpreters, bailiffs, and defense attorneys. Furthermore, while I have tried dozens of serious and violent cases in the courtroom, I have also developed expertise in the areas of research and writing. I have litigated hundreds of written motions in the area of criminal procedure and evidence. My knowledge of criminal procedure, the Penal Code, and the Evidence Code has been tested on intensive district attorney promotional exams and, more importantly, everyday in court. Lastly, I have witnessed the fact that a courtroom is a remarkably complex environment in which hardworking professional people (judicial assistants, reporters, bailiffs, attorneys, jurors, and interpreters) all work together to see that justice is done in an efficient and timely fashion, sometimes under intense pressure and budgetary constraints. To run an efficient and fair courtroom, the judge must effectively lead these professionals each and every day. Furthermore, effective courtroom management requires a respect for every person's job and a true interest in overseeing a work environment that is as pleasant as possible for everyone. I have been in the courtroom my entire professional career, every day, and I am genuinely committed to serving the litigants and the public with integrity, firmness, and fairness. It is this experience and devotion to public service which I would like to take to the bench.

2. Do you believe that all citizens have adequate access to legal help and the legal system? If not, what can be done to provide wider and better access?

While not everyone has equal access to legal help, continued public support of public defenders and legal aid is essential. In the criminal context I have witnessed the professionalism and hard work by the attorneys in the Los Angeles County Public Defenders Officer, and Alternate Public Defenders Office. While these lawyers are often my opponents on the other side of the courtroom, I have enormous respect for them and the work they do. In particular, diligent work on behalf of indigent defendants ensures that the rights of all citizens are protected and helps for the efficient and professional administration of criminal justice. Continued staffing and funding at high levels of these offices will provide top-notch legal representation to thousands of people in our community.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 30, 2012 08:51
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