2 LAWYERS STATE THEIR CASES FOR JUDGESHIP.

Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer

When the Ventura Superior Court's longest sitting judge steps down in January 1997, two fortysomething attorneys with notably different career paths hope to step up to the post.

Don Coleman - a Ventura County prosecutor for the past 17 years - faces Cathleen Drury - a criminal defense, civil and family lawyer for the past 12 years - in the March 26 primary election.

The winner will take over from Lawrence Storch, who was appointed to the Superior Court by former Gov. Jerry Brown in February 1977. Storch announced his retirement in October, opening the way for the only March ballot contest among 12 judicial seats.

The seven other Superior Court incumbents and the three Municipal Court incumbents are without opposition.

The fourth Municipal Court judge on the ballot is Becky Riley, appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson in November. Although not technically an incumbent, Riley shares the same benefit as most sitting judges in elections - no other lawyer in the county is seeking her post.

"The only time we usually have a judicial contest is when there's a vacancy," said Bruce Bradley, assistant registrar of voters.

"It's just the protocol," he noted. "The chances are, if you're a lawyer yourself and if you run against that judge, you may appear before them later."

Both Coleman and Drury announced their intentions to run in mid-November. The deadline for filing was Friday, and campaigning should begin in earnest during the next month.

Coleman said he hopes to share the success of former prosecutor Colleen Toy White, who won election to a vacant Superior Court post in November 1994. Coleman figures he got a good start a year ago, when he took over White's post as chief deputy district attorney.

"I sat down and really debated with myself, do I really want the change, because I enjoy being a prosecutor," said Coleman, 45, who was hired in 1979 after clerking for former Superior Court Judge Marvin Lewis. "I thought I could accomplish more now from the other side of the bench."

With 10 of the 15 sitting Superior Court judges being former county prosecutors, Drury acknowledged she has an uphill battle to generate public support in less than three months.

"Our district attorney launches the careers of most of our judges. There are too many prosecutors. I want to bring more balance to the bench," said Drury, 44, whose private practice has been based in Thousand Oaks since 1986.

Coleman said a primary goal for him as judge would be restoring public confidence in the judicial system. He contends that the courts should promote and not be an obstacle to justice.

"There is some public concern with our system of justice," Coleman said. "It lies with the fact that, perhaps, the system has become overly concerned with procedure vs. substance, and has lost touch, perhaps, with the people we're supposed to serve."

Coleman has gained initial name recognition thanks to a long list of endorsements from law enforcement associations and congressional representatives.

"I'm imminently qualified," he said. "They know me."

Drury knows she gained some name recognition during a six-month stint as a morning radio talk show co-host with Thousand Oaks-based KNJO. But she said more county residents need to get to know her as a successful lawyer capable of being a fair judge.

"The place where I have most of my experience is in the Superior Court. I know I can do the job well, I know that I bring a lot of extras to the job," she said.

Drury entered law school after going through a divorce in 1978 that left her with more questions than answers about family law. When Drury opened her own practice after passing the state bar, however, she concentrated on criminal defense work.

Much of her practice now is in family and civil law. Drury, a single mother with a son and daughter, said the work has given her plenty of experience that a good judge needs.

"I'm very objective. I've had a lot of experience seeing both sides of the story and then getting to the truth," Drury explained. "That's the type of judge we need on the bench."

Drury said one factor that ultimately motivated her to enter the judicial race was a concern that too many judges are former prosecutors who don't deal with enough people on a personal basis.

"Most judges come from the (District Attorney's) Office," she said. "They represent the people of the state, but that's an abstract, that's not a person who comes into your office and says, help me."

Coleman said 17 years as a prosecutor with a wide range of duties in the county District Attorney's Office would be an asset if he were elected to the Superior Court bench.

"I'm sure we will have some nice, rigorous debates on the campaign trail," he said.

Coleman began as a misdemeanor trial lawyer, moved to Juvenile Court, felony offenses and sexual assaults. Coleman then was superintendent of the misdemeanor unit before taking over recruiting and training, and then moving into major crimes.

From 1989 to 1994, Coleman was special assistant district attorney. During the past year, he has been one of the four chief deputies under District Attorney Mike Bradbury.

Coleman oversees the child support division, the parental child abduction unit, and the welfare fraud prosecution unit. He also is in charge of budget and personnel for the entire District Attorney's Office.

"It has been interesting, quite frankly," he said.

Married and a father of three school-age children, Coleman said he has "strong convictions on the way I think the judicial system should work."

Coleman said the courts must not become isolated from the people they serve. His goals include increased efficiency, making the courts more responsive to residents, and making the courts more accommodating to jurors.

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Photo (1--Color) Don Coleman 17-year veteran as prosecutor (2--color) Cathleen Drury Defense, civil, family lawyer