How long have you resided in Calaveras County? I have resided in Calaveras County since 1994.
What are your qualifications? I currently serve as Calaveras Superior Court Commissioner presiding over hearings, settlement conferences, and trials. Prior to being appointed Commissioner, I served Calaveras Superior Court as the research attorney for the judges, researching and recommending rulings in criminal and civil cases. I have been on the bench deciding cases for Calaveras County Superior Court since 2001. Prior to my employment with the Court, I was in private practice serving the residents of Calaveras County in criminal, juvenile, family, and civil cases since 1995.
What are your greatest strengths? My 12 years of experience on the bench in Calaveras County. My knowledge of the law, specialized training as a judge, and experience on the bench qualify me as the best candidate for Calaveras Superior Court Judge, Department One. In 2013, I was named Judicial Officer of the Year. This statewide award is given to one recipient each year for their efforts to promote fairness and increased community access to the courts. For more information see my website at www.Barrett4Judge.com.
What are your greatest weaknesses? My 12 years on the bench in Calaveras County. Unlike attorneys who can discuss pending cases and advertise their services in the community, my service as a judicial officer and the restrictions of the Judicial Cannons of Ethics prevent me from discussing pending cases and the successful resolutions I have reached in contested matters. This “silent service” is a significant disadvantage when a candidate’s name recognition and accomplishments are essential issues in an election.
Do you feel you can be impartial? Yes, as Court Commissioner I have to be fair to all parties and decide cases only upon the facts presented and the law as written. I have been doing this for over 12 years on the bench in Calaveras County.
Why have you chosen to be a candidate for civil/criminal superior court judge? I am a candidate for Superior Court Judge, Department One, because Judge John Martin is retiring. Judge Martin hired and trained me over the past decade to be his replacement. While I encouraged Judge Martin to remain in service to our county, I understand and honor his decision to retire and I am ready and willing to assume the responsibilities of the office. Both Judge John Martin and Judge Douglas Mewhinney endorse my candidacy for Superior Court Judge, Department One.
What do you perceive as the greatest obstacles to justice within our County? The lack of services and resources. With the construction of a new jail, we hope to have adequate detention facilities to incarcerate those who present the greatest danger of repeated criminal activity. Additionally, we need increased services in the areas of drug treatment, child visitation supervisors, foster parents, youth mentors, job training, co-parenting, veterans advocates, and elder abuse monitors. Many of these services are dependent upon charitable volunteer organizations which need a collaborative and receptive ear in our Court.
How would you address the perceived rise in juvenile crime? The focus of the juvenile law is rehabilitation. California juvenile law codified a system of graduated sanctions aimed at achieving behavior modification while recognizing the unique developmental aspects of juvenile offenders. Addressing juvenile crime starts in the home. Often, involving and empowering parents in the process provides the most effective and long lasting solutions. Early and decisive intervention has proven to be the best approach to dealing with juvenile offenders. Special care must be taken when parental resources are lacking or uncooperative. These cases present special challenges and deserve special attention in order to interrupt the cycle of dysfunction and potential for escalating criminality. I have years of training and experience with the juvenile law and firmly believe successful intervention by the juvenile court saves families, community resources, and in some cases, lives.
Do you support specialty courts? (Please explain your answer and define which specialty courts you would like to see continue or implemented in Calaveras County.) Specialty courts are a relatively new approach to addressing the age old problem of criminal recidivism. Specialty courts seek to address the root causes of criminal behavior as opposed to merely punishing the criminal. These “problem solving courts” engage in judicial monitoring of compliance with court orders and collaborate closely with local treatment and community agencies. However, as with most complicated issues of human behavior, the devil is in the details. The structure of the specialty court must provide measurable results while not undermining the traditional criminal justice system. I support the concept of specialty courts in the areas of drug addiction, domestic violence, veteran offenders, and elder abuse. For specialty courts to become accepted into the judicial mainstream they must be structured in such a way to effectively monitor and address the offending behavior without becoming a “get out of jail free” card.
What is your general judicial philosophy? The judge’s role in our legal system is to ensure equal justice for all under the law. I have accomplished this during my 12 years on the bench in Calaveras County by being prepared in advance for every hearing, listening carefully to all sides before making any decisions, asking questions of the attorneys and litigants when I an uncertain on an issue of fact or law raised, providing a tentative ruling in the matter to allow discussion or necessary correction before entry of judgment, and faithfully following the law as written. I am not concerned with appearing to be all-knowing or infallible; my task is to achieve the correct and just outcome under the facts and the law.
Would you favor or oppose a system in which all sentencing decisions were routinely reported in local newspapers, indexed by the name of the judge? I have no opposition to the public reporting of any and all decisions in public proceedings. Open courts are a hallmark of our great legal system.
Have you ever been disciplined by the State Bar association? No.
What are your outside interests? In my private time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, photography, marksmanship, gardening, and outdoor activities.
At this point I will allow any additional information the candidate would like to disseminate to the public within the parameters of the judicial canon, limited to 200 words.
Grant Barrett has lived in and served the needs of Calaveras County for over 18 years. He has over 12 years of experience on the bench.
Since 2000, Grant has worked for Calaveras Superior Court, first as research attorney, then as temporary judge, and since 2006 as Court Commissioner. Grant was named 2013 Judicial Officer of the Year.
In local private practice, Grant represented parties in criminal, juvenile, family, property, and business disputes. He incorporated and served on the boards of the Calaveras Community Foundation and the Friends of the Calaveras Library, Valley Springs Chapter.
Grant graduated with honors from Empire College School of Law in 1995. Prior to law school he graduated with honors from California State University at Hayward. Grant served in the United State Army Reserve from 1985 until his honorable discharge in 1993.
Grant lives in Valley Springs with his wife Janice. In his private time Grant enjoys spending time with his family and friends, photography, marksmanship, gardening, and outdoor activities.
His broad legal experience, dedication to our community, and commitment to fairness under the law qualify Grant Barrett as the right choice for Calaveras Superior Court Judge, Department One.
For more information please visit www.Barrett4Judge.com
