League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA June 8, 2010 Election
	Vanessa A. Zecher 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?

• I believe that people should be held accountable for their actions and I would be looking for that accountability when I am considering an appropriate sentence.

• I would consider the severity and impact of the crime on the victim and on society in general. Considerations such as whether the defendant used a weapon, caused physical injury and the age of the victim would be important in determining a fair and just sentence.

• I would want to know if the defendant has a prior criminal record and, if so, what it is.

• The attitude of the defendant would be important in terms of whether he/she acknowledges that he/she has caused harm, whether the defendant expresses remorse for causing that harm and has paid restitution to the victim.

• I strongly believe in rehabilitation for first time drug offenders, unless their offenses are dealing or selling drugs, and for persons with mental health issues where their offenses are minor.

• If the jury has made a decision in a capital case that the death penalty is correct, then I would uphold that decision unless there was a valid legal reason (not a personal or arbitrary opinion) to do otherwise.

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

• I have been a civil arbitrator since approximately 1994 deciding a range of cases from car accidents to legal malpractice.

• I have served as a Judge Pro Tem and Settlement Officer since approximately 2002 presiding over and settling hundreds of civil matters

• I have had jury trial experience in our criminal court and in Federal Court. In approximately 1992 I spent six months as a volunteer with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office assigned to the misdemeanor calendars.

• As a Deputy County Counsel (from December 1987-approximately August 1991) I represented the Public Guardian, the Santa Clara County Sheriff, Valley Medical Center, Department of Family and Children's Services and the Municipal and Superior Court Judges in a variety of issues in both State and Federal Court

• I have experience in multiple Court trials involving child abuse, child molest, chemical dependency issues, mental health issues and general child neglect issues.

• I have experience in taking cases to hearing in administrative proceedings for labor relations issues related to the County of Santa Clara and in foster parent licensing matters.

• I founded my own law firm in 1994 specializing in family law matters. I have had many trials involving child custody and visitation issues, mental health issues, chemical dependency issues, business valuations, stock option valuations and characterization, pension issues, and child and spousal support issues

• I have substantial experience working with experts in trial in the areas of mental health, chemical dependency, child abuse and neglect, child sexual abuse, and accounting issues.

• I have served as an attorney for minors, representing over 50 children in high conflict custody cases giving me extensive experience with the special needs of children both in and of court.

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?

• I do not tolerate or condone discrimination of any kind or nature either in my law office or in my personal life.

• As an attorney, I have taken mandatory State Bar continuing education classes sensitizing me to issues related to either actual bias or the appearance of bias in the Courtroom (which I do even now as an attorney).

• As a judge, I will take the required the Elimination of Bias in the Legal Profession classes as well as a required two hour class, every other year, entitled Prevention and Responding to Sexual Harassment.

• As a judge, I will ensure my courtroom is accessible to all, providing necessary assistance to all litigants, and educate my courtroom staff on the high standard of fair treatment I expect in my courtroom.

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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).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: June 5, 2010 21:24
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