HONORED JUDGE TO LEAVE LANCASTER.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

Lancaster Superior Court Judge Michael Luros, named Judge of the Year in March by the Antelope Valley Bar Association, is leaving for another judicial assignment.

After two years in Lancaster, Luros will be heading to Glendale to preside over a mental health court, which handles the cases of criminal defendants who have been declared mentally incompetent.

``The quality of law that is practiced here, the nature of the cases, the caliber of the attorneys, are every bit as excellent and challenging and stimulating as any cases that are heard down below,'' Luros said.

No replacement has yet been named for Luros because Los Angeles County Superior Court is down eight judges and awaiting judicial appointments by Gov. Gray Davis.

That leaves behind one judge, Lancaster Superior Court Supervising Judge Frank Jackson, and the possibility that no felony jury criminal trials will be heard in Lancaster until a new judge is named.

Luros is scheduled to stay on in Lancaster through the beginning of January, until he finishes overseeing a criminal trial in his court.

After that, Jackson's court may have to take on a role of a ``master calendar'' court, which assigns jury criminal trials to other courts in downtown Los Angeles or elsewhere in the county, officials said.

``It's a very difficult situation, and one the (Superior Court) presiding judge (Victor Chavez) doesn't want to have happen, so he is hopeful that the governor will make the appointments,'' said Jerrianne Hayslett, a Superior Court spokeswoman.

About 65 percent of felony criminal cases filed in Lancaster are already being heard in courts other than Lancaster's because of court congestion and lack of space, officials said.

``Without a new facility and additional judges, the problem will continue,'' Jackson said.

Luros was named the Antelope Valley Bar Association's first Judge of the Year last March, cited for his work in handling civil cases, in additional to a busy criminal calendar.

Bar association officials said Luros frequently volunteered during lunch hours, Friday evenings and Saturdays to preside over civil settlement conferences and spent many hours of his own time reading court briefs to prepare for law and motion hearings.

Luros also was noted for his sense of humor and from time to time telling jokes from the bench to help lighten the courtroom atmosphere.

``It's going to be very sad to be leaving such a courthouse. It's a well-kept secret,'' Luros said. ``It's the collegiality between the bench and the bar, the ability to work together. It's a very closely knit legal community. We are all trying to accomplish the same goals, administering justice and resolving cases.''

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PHOTO Michael Luros