Frequently Asked Questions

A commissioner is a subordinate judicial officer who is hired by the judges at a courthouse to sit on the bench as a temporary judge by agreement of the parties. Commissioners are here to assist with the heavy workload of the courts. We are also called “subordinate judicial officers” and perform many -- but not all the same duties as a judge. Because we are not judges, we cannot call ourselves that until we are elected by the people or appointed by the governor. For more information, please see Article VI, section 22 of the California Constitution and California Government Code section 72190 

A bench officer is the general name for a commissioner or judge. 

Judicial Experience

Gary has handled nearly every type of case in El Dorado County as a judicial officer. He understands the duties, responsibilities, and ethical obligations of a judge because he fulfills them on a daily basis in his current job. 

Judicial Demeanor

Gary has the temperament of a judge: calm and collected, patient, respectful, and kind. He ensures all parties have an opportunity to present their case, keeps an open mind, and considers the facts before making a decision.

Respected

Gary has earned the respect of the legal community through his commitment to fairly applying the law to all parties that come before him. Additionally, while serving as the Family Law Facilitator and Self-Help Attorney for the El Dorado Superior Court, he earned the respect of the thousands of self-represented litigants who sought his legal assistance.

Committed

Gary understands that few people want to spend their time in court, and he sees it as his mission to get people’s cases resolved on their merits as effectively and efficiently as possible. Gary thoroughly reviews the case files, stays current with the law, and listens carefully to the arguments presented by parties in making his rulings. He also is committed to expanding access to the court system and to preserving the legal rights of all litigants that appear before him.

Campaigns take significant time and cost money. This race is countywide which means we have a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time. We appreciate any financial contribution you can make to help introduce Gary to as many voters as possible. Click here to go to our donation page. Your time volunteering is invaluable as well. If you are able to help, go to our Contact page and send us a message about volunteering. Thank you for your help! 

For our campaign to be successful, we need your help reaching out to as many voters as possible. We need your help canvasing neighborhoods, making phone calls, sharing information on social media, and even stuffing envelopes.  Any help you can give, no matter how little, will be a great help to the campaign. Thank you for your help! 

To volunteer, please contact us using the form on this page. 

The election is on June 7, 2022.  All registered voters will receive Vote-by-Mail ballots around May 9.  You can mail in your ballot, personally deliver your ballot to a Drop Box or a Vote Center, or vote at a Vote Center in the days leading up to or on June 7.  For more information about voting, click here.  If you are not yet registered to vote, click here.  

The June 7 election is the Gubernatorial Primary Election. In addition to the election for judge, voters can vote for candidates for Governor, for Congress, for State Senate, for State Assembly, for the Board of Supervisors, and for several other state and local offices. The election follows the rules of the “Top Two Primary” system, which in most races means the candidates with the top two highest vote totals advance to the General Election in November. For more information about the “Top Two Primary” system, click here.

However, for the election for judge, there at most will be two candidates, so the candidate with the most votes in the June 7 election will be elected. 

If you do not have an attorney, the Family Law Facilitator can provide free legal information and assistance completing paperwork in family law and some civil cases. Visit the Self-Help page of the El Dorado Superior Court website for more information. The California Courts Self-Help Center website has great information as well about many types of cases. 

Absolutely.  However, as a sitting judicial officer, be advised that Gary cannot ethically discuss any specific cases nor how he would rule in a case. Visit our Contact page, and request a time to speak with him.