Candidate Q&A: Dixson, Bass discuss qualifications, court challenges in Placer County judge race

Editor's note: First in a series focusing on Placer County races. Voters will choose between candidates in the race for Superior Court Judge Seat 3 in the upcoming election. The Gold Mountain California News Media team sent each candidate a series of questions to better understand their backgrounds, priorities and reasons for running. Here are their responses: Name: Judge Leon Dixson Occupation: Placer Superior Court Judge Experience: I have presided over thousands of civil and criminal cases in nearly two years as a judge. Before becoming a judge, I served as Supervising Attorney, Managing Attorney, and Regional Counsel at a nonprofit law firm. Contact/website: info@voteforjudgedixson.com https://voteforjudgedixson.com/ Why are you running for this position? I serve as a Placer County Superior Court Judge, and I am running to continue serving our community in this role. I spent my entire career in service to others as a public interest attorney and a judge. I take seriously my role as a neutral problem solver when applying the law to the facts of each case. My values were shaped by my mother and stepfather, who taught me respect for the rule of law, the importance of the American dream, and being of service to others. As a parent and Placer County neighbor for a decade, I would be honored to continue serving our community as a judge. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? Given rules limiting judicial speech, I will focus my response on a challenge people face in the courtroom. Placer County is one of the fastest growing counties in California. As our county grows, so does the number of cases filed. However, we do not receive more judges to meet the demand. Data shows more cases are filed per judicial officer in Placer than in many other counties. This leads to backlogs. To help address this problem, I have increased the number of cases I hear. I reduced the number of hearings scheduled and later cancelled due to attorneys needing more time to prepare. My colleagues and I discussed needed structural changes. To help with the family law caseload, I will transition to family law in July. What unique approach would you bring to your position? I believe that not everyone experiences life in the same way, which is why I listen carefully and approach each case with an open and thoughtful perspective. I have a Master of Dispute Resolution in addition to my law degree, and my education and experience taught me the value of resolving problems by working together. The court system does not have to be adversarial in all cases, and we sometimes find the best solutions when it is not. Some people in the courtroom have thanked me for my approach, even when the case has ended in what some would consider a loss. I am also prepared to issue a decision when people cannot reach an agreement. My judicial philosophy is simple: treat everyone fair and with respect, listen carefully, decide each case based on the law and the facts of that case, taking into consideration things like individual rights and public safety, and model integrity. I keep a note that says, "It is always the right time to do what is right." It is a reminder to always have the courage to do what is right irrespective of what is popular. I am honored to have the endorsement of retired Sheriff Ed Bonner, attorneys, all Placer Superior Court judges, and judges throughout the state – people who best understand the judicial role and the responsibilities that come with it. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? I am married to Amber, my wife of 21 years, and we have three beautiful children who attend Placer public schools. So, most of my non-working time centers around my family. I also volunteer as a mentor and mock trial judge. I am also a bit of a tech and car nerd. Name: Dave Bass Occupation: Deputy District Attorney Experience: Twelve years as an attorney, half as a prosecutor and half in civil practice as a partner in a law firm. I have been a Deputy District Attorney and Deputy Attorney General prosecuting serious felonies and white-collar crime. Serving on the Rocklin City Council, where every vote is public, every decision affects real constituents, and every misstep is accountable to the community, taught me that sound judgment requires deliberation over impulse, and that the people most affected by a decision deserve a process they can trust, not just an outcome they can accept. Contact/website: www.bassforjudge.com Why are you running for this position? I am running because I think judicial seats should be earned through demonstrated readiness. I have tried the cases, exercised the discretion, and lived with the consequences of the decisions I have made. I am ready to bring that same weight of responsibility to the courtroom as a judge. Though there is nothing wrong with appointments, Governor Gavin Newsom's decision to appoint my opponent with a lack of experience in criminal and civil law has set our court's back and I am the candidate that will be able to bring the Placer Courts back in balance. What is the biggest issue in your district and how do you plan to address it? The biggest issue in our courts right now is that the court calendars are packed and we need judges with experience in criminal and civil law that can work the most complex cases from day one. I have stood on both sides of the courtroom. I know what it looks like when the process works — and when it doesn't. My job will be to make it work. That means making decisions and not pushing motions out six months because justice delayed is justice denied. That means running an efficient calendar that does not get out at 6 p.m. That means treating the court clerks and personnel with respect and ensuring we are all rowing in the same direction getting cases decided timely and without unnecessary friction. We also need a judge that understands search warrant law, and is not denying or requesting changes to warrants that curtail law enforcement based on preference rather than experience grounded in law. This is public safety 101. What unique approach would you bring to your position? Most judicial candidates come to the bench from one side of a legal dispute. I have stood on several. I have prosecuted felonies, argued civil rights cases against federal agencies, defended clients in private practice, and managed a city's legal and fiscal obligations as an elected official. That breadth is both unique and valuable. A judge with only one professional vantage point risks deciding cases through that single lens. I approach every dispute by understanding it from multiple directions before deciding. That habit was built into me through years of practice where being wrong had real consequences. I also bring something that cannot be replicated in a shorter career: I have been tested under pressure, in public, at every level of the legal system. I do not bring ideology to the bench, I bring a method based on experience. Outside of your official capacity, what do you like to do in your spare time? I am a bucket dad to an amazing daughter that plays travel softball, outdoor activities with my son, and I enjoy going to local events and restaurants with my wife.