League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Tim Pitsker Answers Questions Candidate for Judge - Superior Court; County of Santa Clara; Office 11

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

Questions & Answers

1. As a judge, you may be called on to impose sentences for crimes ranging from misdemeanors to homicide. While there are sentencing parameters and guidelines, you will have latitude. What factors and principles/values will affect your decisions?

See my comments under politcal philosophy.

2. Please describe your experience in civil and criminal cases.

As a dedicated public servant I worked for 26 years as Deputy District Attorney prosecuting criminals in Santa Clara County (1984-2010). I have taken more felons to trial than any other prosecutor working in the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office. I have prosecuted cases involving rape, mayhem, child molestation, child abuse, terrorists threats, torture, attempted murder, voluntary manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, gang cases, career criminal cases, three strike cases, robbery, kidnapping, assaults with deadly weapons, assaults with infliction of great bodily injury, child pornography, residential burglary, auto & commercial burglary, numerous types of embezzlements and thefts, all kinds of weapons charges, sales, possession for sale and simple possession of heroin, cocaine, methamphetmine, marijuana and many other drugs, welfare fraud, felony and misdemeanor driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol and many other felonies and misdemeanors.

3. Would you propose any changes to assure that there is no appearance of bias in the courtroom including, but not limited to, bias based on disability, gender identity, age, race, religion, ethnicity, or sexual orientation?

The judge has the authority for complete control in court through the use of the powers of contempt and the use of the bailiff. As long as the judge is strict with a no tolerance policy and enforces that policy there will be no problem with bias or discrimination in his/her court.

---

Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' responses are not edited or corrected by the League.

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

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
SmartVoter Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter

---

Created from information supplied by the candidate: June 1, 2010 19:32
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://www.lwvc.org
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.