Commissioner speaks at the cove
Photos and Story by Catherine Stachowiak
Don Griffith, candidate for Kern County Judge, spoke at a luncheon at Paradise Cove Lodge, before the Kern Valley Exchange Club, Thursday February 29. He wanted to introduce himself to the public.
“I’m currently a superior court commissioner,” he said.
Griffith previously taught math, at the middle school level, for 9 years. He also served on a school board for 13 years. His wife convinced him to go to law school thinking it would help him become a school principal. He ended up doing family law for 22 years as a family law specialist.
He was recruited to take over, as court commissioner, a calendar dealing with domestic violence and elder abuse. His boss, the supervising family law judge, was going to retire and delayed retiring for months in hopes Griffith would run for his office.
“I’m running to replace the supervising family law judge.” He said, “I deal a lot with custody and visitation (cases.)”
Because of his previous experience, Griffith believes he has a pretty good handle on custody and visitation issues and making reasonable orders.
There are 48 courtrooms in Kern County, and 40 judges and eight commissioners. Three of the commissioners do family law, according to Griffith.
“I want to stay in Family Law because I think it’s important to have stability and continuity within the courts to make good custody and visitation orders,” Griffith said.
Griffith told the Kern Valley Sun, in a previous interview, that his competitor for the seat has criminal law experience. Griffith believes the ideal candidate should have family law experience.
