Seven Fresno County Superior Court judges will officially not appear on the ballot for the June 2 election.

Greg Fain, Jonathan Conklin, D. Tyler Tharpe, David Gottlieb, Elizabeth Egan, John Vogt, and Kimberly Nystrom-Geist did not declare their intention to run by the Feb. 4 deadline. Because the incumbents are not running, the deadline is extended to Monday, Feb. 9, for others to declare their intention to run.

Some of the races to replace the seven departing judges will be contested elections, with multiple candidates pulling papers to run. It is rare enough for an open judicial seat to go to the voters; seven may be unprecedented.

Judges often retire in the middle of a term, allowing the governor to appoint a successor. If a judge chooses not to seek another term, the voters decide.

Kapetan Pulls Papers to Run for Judge

Another name who could jump into the race to replace Fain is Fresno attorney Marc Kapetan. At this point, he has only pulled papers to run.

Kapetan is a longtime Fresno defense and accident attorney, prominent for the cases he has argued in court and for his frequent media appearances, including his own Saturday show on KMJ radio. He’s also known locally for playing bass in several rock bands, including one featuring ABC30 news anchor Margo Kim as the lead singer.

He previously ran for judge, losing in 2002 to James Oppliger.

His brother Jon is a retired Fresno County judge. His sister-in-law Kirsti Culver Kapetan is a current judge. She is married to Peter Kapetan,  who partners with Marc in the Kapetan Brothers law firm.

Court Commissioner Katherine Fogarty and attorney Rosalina Nunez Manfreda also pulled papers to run for the Fain seat.

Adams, Ruiz Also Plan Runs

Ashley Paulson, an attorney with the Fresno City Attorney’s Office, pulled papers to run for the Conklin seat. Deidre Adams, an attorney with the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office, has done the same.

Adams grew up on the move, a child of shared custody and a Navy brat. She lived on both coasts, attending school in Florida before moving back to California to begin her legal career. After interning at the Sacramento County Public Defender’s Office, she took a job 11 years ago with the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office. She thought it would last a few years. She has never left.

“I fell in love with Fresno. I fell in love with the bench here. I fell in love with the way the courtrooms are conducted. And I decided to make this place where I want to finish my career,” Adams said.

A dedication to public service is motivating her run for judge.

“I believe in the integrity of the system and in absolute fairness. It is my duty to work for the people, and I want to continue working with the people in that capacity,” Adams said..

Adams said she has more criminal law experience than Paulson. She said there was no particular reason she chose this seat over the six others available.

Veteran private attorney Eddie Ruiz pulled papers Wednesday to run for the position Egan will be leaving. Commissioner Noelle Pebet also pulled papers.

Ruiz lives in Easton, where he grew up. A desire to continue public service is motivating his run. He is currently an elected member of the Washington Union School Board, and serves on the nonpublic board of trustees for San Joaquin College of Law.

“I’ve always had a desire to give back through public service. Now that I’m approaching 30 years of private practice and have enjoyed it, have been successful, and have been able to raise three kids with my wife. It felt right to make the transition into running for judge,” Ruiz said.

He said he has the “temperament and humility” to be a judge.

“The job of a judge is to evaluate the facts, apply the law, and give all parties a fair shake in presenting their positions,” Ruiz said.

How Other Racing Are Shaping

One of the remaining four seats may be a contested race.

Attorney Miles Harris and Jennifer L. Smith, a prosecutor in the Fresno County District Attorney’s Office, pulled papers to run for the Vogt seat.

Attorney Jeff Hammerschmidt plans to run for the Tharpe seat. Commissioner Daniel Brickey intends to run for the Gottlieb seat.

Commissioner Jennifer Hamilton pulled papers to run for the Nystrom-Geist seat.

Incumbents running unopposed are Monica Diaz, Houry Sanderson, Melissa Baloian, Gabriel Brickey, Amy Guerra, Lisa Gamoian, Jeffrey Hamilton, James Kelley Jr., Raj Badhesha, Mary Vasquez, and Maria Diaz.