Harry sworn in as newest Lake County Superior Court judge
- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s newest Superior Court judge took her seat on the bench on Monday.
Shanda Harry took her oath of office from Judge Stephen Hedstrom, who she will succeed on the bench, as the county’s other current and retired judges and many well wishers and her family looked on in an afternoon ceremony in Department 2.
Harry won the seat in November after a nearly year-long campaign that saw her beat the sitting district attorney in a runoff while continuing to hold down her job as a deputy county counsel.
Current and former judges joined in giving Harry a warm welcome to her new job, advising her both of the hard work – and the satisfaction in the profession – that is to come.
Judge Michael Lunas, flanked by his fellow judges – Andrew Blum, David Markham and Hedstrom – presided over the ceremony.
Lunas asked Harry’s young daughter, Ophelia – sitting with her father David Rose, grandparents and other family members in the jury box – if she was proud of her mom. “Uh huh,” she replied.
Lunas also introduced Hedstrom, “whose refusal to undergo a fourth term has brought us here today.” Hedstrom announced in late 2017 that he did not intend to seek a fourth term, thus setting the stage for the judicial race.
He also acknowledged the court staff, who he commended for their efforts and who the judges would assure Harry would be an important asset to her in the years ahead.
“Shanda, welcome, welcome to the bench,” said Lunas.
Lunas said Harry is the first woman elected to the Lake County Superior Court bench.
At the same time, she is the second woman to be elected judge in the county’s history, as Lake County News has reported. Betty Irwin ran a successful write-in campaign in 1982 to win a seat on the justice court. Since then, the justice courts have been consolidated into the Superior Court, but until Harry, no woman had won in a Superior Court race.
While lauding her accomplishment, he said that, tomorrow, she will be just another judge who happens to be a woman.
He also had high praise for Hedstrom, who he called “a stalwart of the court and of public service in Lake County,” who has served 18 years on the bench and many years in the District Attorney’s Office.
When Lunas was sworn in six years ago, Hedstrom asked him, “Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve requested to become a Superior Court judge and your request has been granted by the voters of Lake County. The people are entrusting you with their property, their children, their lifestyles and their very freedoms. This is going to be the most challenging job you will ever have.”
Lunas told Harry that the job will be stressful, challenging, agonizing, humbling and sleep-depriving. It’s the hardest job a person can have, but he said she will love it.
He said it’s also a very collegial bench, and the senior judges are here to help her. “Your success is the bench’s success.”
Judge Markham passed on to her a framed quote from Justice Learned Hand that, by local tradition, goes to the newest judge on the bench. It’s been just 11 months since Markham was sworn in after being appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown. He said he thinks he set the record for holding onto it for the shortest amount of time.
Each of the sitting judges took turns welcoming Harry to their ranks and congratulating her for her successful pursuit of the seat.
They were also joined by retired judges Richard Freeborn, David Herrick, Arthur Mann and Richard Martin, who similarly offered congratulations and shared words of wisdom.
Herrick said Harry with need patience and persistence. He said conditions are much different now than when he took the bench 24 year ago, noting the rise of self-represented litigants.
Mann said he was pleased to see Harry coming on as a new judge, and said all of the judges are here to help her. He said being a judge is the greatest job ever imagined.
Freeborn emphasized respect, noting that it was important to offer it to the worst or scallywag before her or the most inept attorney. “Treat everyone with respect and you’ll find at the end of the day that you’ll get the same in return, it keeps things working smooth.”
“I’m proud to see you here,” said Judge Martin.
He recalled Harry always being professional and prepared in her appearances in his courtroom.
“You will do just great and you’ll love it,” he said.
“We’re all pleased to have Shanda here,” said Blum. He added, “I haven’t the slightest doubt she will prove an excellent superior court judge.”
He offered an importance piece of advice: “Sometimes there’s no right answer.”
Markham said that when she starts on Tuesday, it will be a little overwhelming. “But just remember you’re not alone. You have a lot of people that are always willing to help you.”
Hedstrom said it was truly an historic day but not for the reasons people might think.
He said he had received a text while he was shaving earlier in the day and was startled to see it was from retired Judge Robert Crone, who Hedstrom said isn’t one to adopt new technology very quickly. He said Crone could not attend but sent his heartfelt congratulations.
Hedstrom echoed the sentiments of other judges in welcoming Harry.
He told her that the heavy weight of making important decisions in case after case is made easier to bear when considering voters’ trust and confidence in her to exercise good judgment.
“So simply trust yourself,” he told her.
After thorough consideration of evidence and law, every decision follows a simple formula: “You simply do what is right based upon the best interests of the public, no more, no less,” he said.
He then came down from the bench to administer the oath to Harry, who signed the oath and was helped into her robes by her parents, Richard and Wynona Harry.
Harry then joined the other judges on the bench and Hedstrom said, “I’m outta here,” and went to sit beside the retired judges.
In her brief remarks from the bench, Harry thanked everyone for the support.
“It’s been incredible,” she said of the experience of becoming a judge.
Then, she got to say for the first time, “Court is adjourned.”
Harry will be at work on the bench beginning on Tuesday morning, when she’ll start to hear dozens of cases.
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