Judicial candidate interviews to post this week.

The Copper Gazette submitted interview questions to each judicial candidate. Each candidate had one week to respond.
Their responses will begin posting 10-13-14, one each day, in the following order:
Dana Pfeil, Tim Healy, Grant Barrett and Judge Hugh Swift.
Please take the time to read the interviews to help make an informed decision when voting.
And thank you to all the candidates for participating.


The questions posed were:

Judicial candidate questions:

Name and dept.

Why are you running for Superior Court Judge?

What qualifies you for the position you seek?

What is your current occupation and the duties of that position?

How would you define the caseload make-up (civil, family, etc) of your desired department? And what expertise do you currently have to handle those types of cases?

If you could list one thing in life you are proud you accomplished with regards to your career, what would that be? And why?

What have you done in the past year, 2014, to further your education?

What is your greatest strength?

What is your greatest weakness?

At this point you may submit a 300 word or less statement covering topics not covered in the before mentioned questions.

Calaveras Communty TV Dept One Judicial candidate interviews

Complete Calaveras County Superior Court Judge candidate interviews

To read a candidates interview, please click on their name.

Hugh Swift

Grant Barrett

Dana Pheil

Ken Foley

John Trifilo

Tim Healy

Kenneth Foley - Calaveras County Suprior Court Judge candidate interview

For which department is your candidacy?  Department One

How long have you resided in Calaveras County? Since 1974 - 40 years.

What are your qualifications? Admitted to practice 1974- former deputy district Attorney.

What are your greatest strengths? I have worked in all areas of the law.

Hugh Swift - Calaveras County Superior Court Judge Dept 2 candidate interview

For which department is your candidacy?

Department Two, where I currently serve as Superior Court Judge.

How long have you resided in Calaveras County?

I have lived and raised my children in Angels Camp since 1999.

What are your qualifications?

I was appointed as a judge after I was evaluated by an independent commission.  The commission contacted attorneys, judges, former employers and employees regarding my qualifications and suitability as a judge.  The commission rated me as qualified after it considered criteria such as impartiality, integrity, honesty, freedom from bias, commitment to equal justice, patience, intellectual capacity and judicial temperament.

My legal career began 28 years ago. As an attorney in private practice, I represented clients in hundreds of cases.  My litigation experience included arbitrations, mediations, jury and court trials, and appeals.  As an attorney for the court, I researched legal issues in every type of case that a judge would hear.

I was a Superior Court Commissioner for five years and presided at over 3,000 hearings as a Judge Pro Tem.    

I was a Court Executive Officer for 11 years and developed a thorough understanding of judicial administration and court operations.

I have been endorsed by Presiding Judge John E. Martin and my predecessor Judge Douglas Mewhinney.   They know me and are familiar with my skills, abilities and character. I am proud to list them, as well as many other judges throughout the state, as supporters. 

What are your greatest strengths?

I am independent, analytical and objective. I am focused on facts and, while performing my duties as a judge, do not involve emotions in my decision making process.    

I am a demonstrated leader. When Judge Martin leaves office at the end of the year the Court, as an organization, will require a leader knowledgeable in judicial administration and court operations.

I value collaboration and have worked with local and state agencies on projects to improve the administration of justice.  

John Trifilo - Calaveras County Superior Court Judge Dept 2 candidate interview

For which department is your candidacy?

I am running for Department #2, which at the current time, deals primarily with civil issues.

How long have you resided in Calaveras County?

My wife and I purchased a home here in the late 1990’s and made that home our primary residence in approximately 2002.

What are your qualifications? 

I have been in private practice since 1974. I have been primarily involved in civil litigation including family law, personal injury, and civil litigation. In the initial stages of my career, I also handled misdemeanor and felony defense litigation and criminal appeals. I have helped over a thousand family law clients alone, and handled hundreds of other cases in other areas of the law. Family law requires significant litigation in the courtroom, and I have been in courtrooms throughout the state helping my clients. I know the law as it pertains to those cases that I have handled and I am very familiar with what needs to be done to properly adjudicate cases. Forty years of appearing before the courts has given me the qualifications necessary to be a good judge. 

What are your greatest strengths?

I know the law well as it pertains to civil and family law issues. I also have some background in criminal litigation. I believe that I know what a good judge needs to do, and how to do it. I also believe that I am extremely patient and fair.

Tim Healy - Calaveras County Superior Court Judge Dept 2 candidate interview

For which department is your candidacy?

            -Department two.

How long have you resided in Calaveras County?

            -I have lived in Calaveras for 11 years, my wife over 20.

What are your qualifications?

-I earned my undergraduate degree in History from Duke University in 1986 and my Law Degree from the University of the Pacific’s McGeorge School of Law in 2000.  I have been a Criminal Prosecutor and a member of the California State Bar Association for over 13 years.  I have prosecuted thousands of cases during my career having personally handled over 1000 cases as the only attorney assigned.  During 2013 there were approximately 1500 adult misdemeanor and felony cases heard in Calaveras Courts.  In only two years as a charging deputy for my office in San Joaquin County I reviewed over 10,000 police reports in order to determine whether charges should be filed.  I am the only candidate for Department 2 who has this experience.  It will take years for a Judge sitting in Calaveras who does not have my experience to gain the knowledge I already have as a prosecutor. 

What are your greatest strengths? 

- My family, compassion for others, my desire to ensure justice, courtroom experience, my knowledge of the law and life experiences outside the law.

Dana Pfeil - Calaveras County Superior Court Judge Dept 1 candidate interview

Dana Pfeil

For which department is your candidacy?

Calaveras County Superior Court Department One, the criminal court.

How long have you resided in Calaveras County?

I grew up in the Motherlode and live ten minutes past the County line towards Sonora.  My children attend high school and once they graduate my husband and I will be moving to Calaveras County.  My family doctor and optometrist are in Calaveras County as well as my pharmacy, P.O. Box, bank, favorite restaurants and grocery stores.  I have commuted to Calaveras County for my entire legal career, over fourteen years, and cannot wait to live here.

What are your qualifications?

I have been an attorney for over fourteen years.  Initially I practiced civil law primarily dealing with family, real estate and personal injury cases.   I became interested in criminal law after handling a few cases and transitioned to the Public Defender’s Office.  While there, I handled all misdemeanors from arraignment through sentencing.  I also handled all aspects of child dependency cases.

 In 2001, I was honored to be invited to join the District Attorney’s Office by then District Attorney Jeff Tuttle.   I have prosecuted crimes in Calaveras County for over twelve years now.  I have had many overlapping assignments.  For all of these assignments I was a vertical prosecutor which means I handled the case from initial charging through sentencing.  For over seven years I made all the charging decisions for domestic violence cases and vertically prosecuted all felony domestic violence cases.    

For four years I was the assigned prosecutor to the Calaveras Narcotics Enforcement Unit of the Sheriff’s Department.   I was in charge of reviewing all drug reports generated by this agency for charging decisions, search warrant review, and prosecution of cases from arraignment to sentencing.  During this period of time I learned the unique aspects of search and seizure law and the importance of protecting citizens Constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment.   The Fourth Amendment is the Constitutional right that allows each person to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures.   The rules that apply to this very broad right are decided on a case by case basis which means search and seizure laws have developed over a significant period of time and are based on thousands and thousands of cases.  An understanding of these rules is critical to making proper judicial decisions as it relates to detentions, searches, warrants and the admissibility of evidence. 

For two and half years I also vertically prosecuted all sexual assault and child abuse crimes.  I have prosecuted rapists, child molesters, sex offenders who fail to register, child abusers, and persons who put children at risk to be injured or worse. 

While handling these various assignments I also prosecuted various felonies including homicide, robbery, first degree burglary, arson, embezzlement, and violent crimes against law enforcement to name a few.   

I have made charging decisions in thousands of cases.  I have successfully conducted dozens of jury trials.  I have handled hundreds of contested evidentiary hearings.  I have handled misdemeanor appeals to the Superior Court.  As a senior deputy I have experienced virtually every aspect of criminal law and procedure.  It is my firm belief that one cannot and should not sit in judgment of a criminal case unless and until they have mastered criminal law and procedure.

What are your greatest strengths?

My greatest strengths as they relate to my profession are what have made me a successful prosecutor and attorney.  I am knowledgeable in the law and courtroom procedure, keeping up to date on new case law.  I am an accurate and fast researcher.  I have good analytical skills.  I write legalese well and I am persuasive.   I know how to judge the credibility of others and the facts of a case.    I’m decisive and I take into consideration all sides of an issue before making a determination.  I know how to say no and stick to it.  I am passionate about the law and my ability to help others.   I am compassionate when appropriate and stern when necessary.   I have a commanding presence in court.  I am fair and always try to do the right thing. 

My greatest strengths as a person are my honesty and sincerity.   I do not lie and I do not like being lied to.  Anyone who knows me knows I am candid and forthright.   I have a fun personality and consider myself a good friend.   I cherish my husband and children and hope I have been a good example for them.  

Grant Barrett - Calaveras County Superior Court Judge Dept 1 candidate interview

For which department is your candidacy? Department One.

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.

Judge candidate interviews on the Gazette begin posting today, 4-7-14

The Copper Gazette sent interview questions to each candidate for Calaveras County Superior Court Judge, Dept 1 and Dept 2.

Each candidate received the same questions and had seven days with which to respond. Each candidate responded.

Today, April 7, 2014, the judicial candidate interviews will begin to post in the order in which they were received by the Copper Gazette, one interview per day. No editing has been done with exception to a handwritten interview portion turned in by Ken Foley which was transcribed verbatim.

Please take time to read the interviews, as these candidates before you will represent you and your county for many years to come.

As always, before casting your vote, become informed, ask questions of those seeking to represent you.

The following are the questions and rules submitted to the candidates: