How to resolve AdBlock issue? LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County’s newest Superior Court judge took his seat on the bench in a Friday ceremony.
Judge J. David Markham was welcomed to the bench by his fellow Super Court judges, along with several retired judges – including the man he is succeeding, Judge Richard Martin, who retired in May – and a standing-room-only gallery of friends, family and local officials.
Markham took his oath in the very same courtroom where, in January 2001, he came to work on his first case as an attorney.
Gov. Jerry Brown announced his appointment of Markham to the vacancy created by Martin’s retirement just days before Christmas, as Lake County News has reported.
Presiding Judge Andrew Blum, joined by judges Martin, Michael Lunas and Stephen Hedstrom, and Commissioner Douglas Thiele, welcomed Markham in remarks given from the bench.
Blum said Markham has the experience, intelligence and patience to do the job well, and said he had no doubt Markham would be an excellent addition to the bench.
“But Dave, remember the old phrase, ‘Be careful what you ask for,’” Blum said with a smile, as Markham sat at the defense table.
Blum and his colleagues would emphasize the demanding nature of the job, which is around the clock and every day of the week, and the countless – and challenging – decisions ahead that Markham will make that will impact people’s lives from birth to death.
“As one of four judges on the bench, you will have a major impact on the lives of the citizens of this county,” Blum said.
Resources are stretched thin and the caseloads are large, with Blum noting that two cases are already waiting for Markham’s attention.
However, Blum added, “It’s gratifying to do a challenging job and to do it well.”
Judge Lunas passed along to Markham a framed quote by Judge Learned Hand that is part of a tradition started by the late Judge John Golden. Written in calligraphy by Golden’s wife, Gail, the quote discusses the challenges and rewards of being a judge. It’s always given to the newest judge at their swearing in.
Lunas, who has held onto it for five years, said he’s reread the quote often, and told Markham he believed that Judge Hand overestimated how hard the job is and underestimated how good it is.
The retired judges in attendance also offered their congratulations and a word or two of advice.
Richard Freeborn urged Markham to emphasize order in his courtroom, and said the way to do that is to respect everyone, which he said will result in respect from others.
David Herrick had two key words for Markham – the first, patience, and the second, perseverance.
Robert Crone, who was sworn in as judge 34 years ago this week, wasn’t in attendance, but his remarks and good wishes were communicated to Markham. Crone had also administered Markham’s attorney’s oath to him when he began practicing law.
Hedstrom humorously recalled Markham’s pen-spilling skills – which he compared to a pistol-spinning scene in the movie “Tombstone” – before paying tribute to Markham’s skills as an attorney and his ethics.
He said he’s known Markham’s father, Jeff – a retired sheriff’s chief deputy who was in the courtroom for the event – for decades, and recalled how proud Jeff Markham has been of his son’s ethics and work, which Hedstrom also lauded in welcoming the newest judge.
Martin said he was very happy to have had Markham in his courtroom in the past, noting he is a good attorney with a good work ethic, who worked hard on every case.
Best of all, Martin said, Markham possesses the “judicial demeanor” necessary to demonstrate fairness in the work of a judge.
Martin said he believes Markham joins a good bench the members of which work well together.
He also pointed out that the fast-changing nature of society and technology – including computers, genetics and artificial intelligence – likely will bring Markham cases that have issues no one has ever heard before.
“You’ll have challenges that probably none of us have imagined,” Martin said.
Lunas guaranteed he would have days where, after up to 180 cases, Markham would go home and be too tired to eat. At the same time, however, Lunas told him he would still think such days were great, and would look forward to the next, with every day different.
He promised Markham that his door would always be open to him to offer help and counsel.
Judge Blum then came down from the bench to administer the oath of office to Markham. Afterward, Jeff Markham stepped forward and helped his son into his new judicial robe before giving him a hug.
David Markham then joined the rest of the judges on the bench while Martin joined the retired judges near the jury box.
Markham recalled making his first appearance in the same courtroom in January 2001.
“I’m humbled and honored to receive this appointment, and although I worked hard for it, I certainly didn’t do this on my own,” he said, thanking those who had supported him and giving credit to his parents for their support, love and encouragement.
He said Lake County has been a great place to live and work, and a place that has given him a great deal.
Markham said he has big shoes to fill in succeeding Martin, who is himself a great example of the judicial temperament, defined as exhibiting compassion, decisiveness, open-mindedness, sensitivity, courtesy, patience, freedom from bias and commitment to equal justice.
He called Martin a role model. “I only hope that I can fill the role of judge half as well as he has during his career.”
Markham promised to work hard, adding, “This will be how I give back to Lake County, a county that has given me so much.”
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