Two deaths and several retirements have resulted in a younger generation of judges taking over the bench, the majority of whom were appointed by Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. At the same time, a nationwide trend to consolidate Municipal and Superior courts has been moving forward here, further rocking a once stalwart government institution. Eureka attorney Phil Arnot, who has been practicing law in Eureka since 1964, doesn't recall ever seeing such a dramatic turnover on the bench. We've had deaths, retirement. By the end of 1998, Humboldt County will have seen five of the seven seats on the bench turn over within about two years.
Time marches on.
That march began in 1996 after Municipal Court Judges John R. Morrison and Ronald Rowland retired. The following year, Superior Court Judge Ferroggiaro and Municipal Court Judge Dominic Banducci died within four months of each other. Three candidates are vying for his Superior Court seat. His six-year term expires at the end of the year. So far, Humboldt County has been very fortunate with the caliber of its judicial replacements, area attorneys say privately.