Jason’s restaurant hosted the debate in their meeting room. There was no booze or food in the room other than cookies and coffee. I didn’t take notes, or show up with the intent of writing about it, but it gave me some of the following thoughts.

It was bound to be a tough night for Burton, sort of home court advantage for Judge Haakenson, as the room was filled with MCBA members. Not that Burton didn’t have his supporters too. It was perhaps nerves on Mr. Burton’s part when during opening, while Haakenson stepped out in front of the tables, and left his suit coat unbuttoned, Burton stood up behind the tables and buttoned his coat – the top two buttons of his grey three button suit topping a light green solid silk tie. Haakenson was in a navy blue three button suit also, with a light blue shirt and light blue patterned tie. But the difference was Haakenson’s casual approach and Burton’s more formal. I would have thought that Burton would have changed it up for some of the questions and got out in front of the tables, but he didn’t.

Following their opening remarks, the panel of Larry Baskin and Randy Wallace read questions.

Never having been to a judicial debate before (and other than a college philosophy debate I went to one time, I can’t recall attending any live debates), I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I don’t know why Mr. Burton ran against a sitting Judge rather than for the open Judicial seat in which Commissioner Roy Chernus is running unopposed.

I was a surprised how Judge Haakenson went after Mr. Burton a little bit. I wouldn’t say it was unbecoming a Judge, but the thought crossed my mind. Of course, like I said, I couldn’t fill a thimble with my knowledge of politics, so perhaps it’s par for the course at all debates, not just state or national politics. Judge Haakenson did also praise Mr. Burton occasionally.

Mr. Burton for his part didn’t go after Judge Haakenson, but criticized the Marin County Court. Not really the best strategy consider the crowd but what else did he have? He also criticized the appointment process and that Judge Haakenson was appointed by a republican, Gov. Schwarzenegger. Mr. Burton favored of a merit based system as used in some other states (he said 36, I think). Judge Haakenson defended the extensive application appointment candidates are required to complete and large numbers of individual references he had to give.

However, Mr. Burton’s largest point of contention and theme that ran throughout his responses was the little guy against the big guy. Coming from a plaintiff’s firm with a good reputation for representing individuals and consumers, it’s not surprising that he believes strongly in defending the little guy against corporations. But, as Joel Gumbiner leaned over to me at one point and whispered, “He should run for state legislature,” Mr. Burton’s remarks seemed more appropriate to a legislative than a Judicial race.

Judge Haakenson’s major theme was all that he as done for the community. He cited a long list of volunteer work he has done, and the good he has done from the bench, reading a letter from the mother of man he incarcerated that praised him.

On the residency issue, the question was asked whether or not Judges should be required to live in the community in which they sit. Mr. Burton indicated the law used to require Judges live in the County they serve, and I thought he said that it was the Judges of the Marin County Court themselves that overturned that rule. Mr. Burton lives in the County, while Judge Haakenson does not. Judge Haakenson defended “living a few miles across the County line” with all that he has done for Marin County and that while he spends his days in Marin and sleeps outside of the County, Mr. Burton spends his days in San Francisco, and only sleeps here.

The debate wrapped up in around an hour, a few minutes after 8:00 (shorter than the advertised 9:00) with closing remarks from each.