Home › News › County News
Veteran prosecutor is settling in to new job
Redmond says he's thrilled to be court commissioner
Download this story as a podcast!
Redmond
STORY TOOLS
More from County News
Only days after taking the bench, Ventura County Superior Court's newest commissioner, William "Bill" Redmond, said he is delighted about being selected for the post.
"I am just thrilled and absolutely honored that they gave me that opportunity," he said Wednesday.
A commissioner presides over court cases, in a role similar to a judge's. Ventura County Superior Court judges appointed the veteran prosecutor to fill the vacancy created by the appointment of former Commissioner Ellen Gay Conroy to a judgeship on July 21.
Redmond, a 52-year-old Oxnard resident, has been hearing cases since Monday, including two preliminary hearings in felony criminal cases and a slew of traffic citations.
"I've been all over the place," he said and laughed, adding that he will go to whatever court he is assigned.
Redmond became a deputy district attorney in Ventura County in 1990 and a senior prosecutor in 2006 while working in the Sexual Assault and Family Protection Unit.
From 2002 to 2005 he supervised the district attorney's General Felony and Misdemeanor Unit, and from 1997 to 2002 he supervised the Felony Unit.
He said going from a prosecutor or criminal attorney to a judge is like "a ballplayer deciding to become an umpire."
Redmond earned his bachelor of arts degree from San Francisco State University, graduating magna cum laude. He received his law degree from the Ventura College of Law.
Before becoming an attorney, he was a juvenile probation officer from 1987 to 1990. He was also a National Park Service ranger from 1979 to 1987.
A commissioner hears such matters as family law, juvenile delinquency, child support, domestic violence cases, and traffic and small-claims cases.
A commissioner can preside over a criminal case if both the prosecutor and defense attorney agree, said Robert Sherman, an assistant executive officer with the Superior Court.
Posted by bob100 on August 21, 2008 at 7:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr. Redmond is a quality human being - good luck in your new position.
Posted by a.wisotsky on August 21, 2008 at 7:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congratulations and best wishes for success and fulfillment in your new position, Bill. You can "umpire" my game any time.
Posted by rebel123 on August 21, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"He said going from a prosecutor or criminal attorney to a judge is like "a ballplayer deciding to become an umpire."
Not exactly. A baseball player plays both offense and defense.
Posted by jesus1 on August 21, 2008 at 9:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"Vetreran prosecutor" does that mean he used to prosecute veterans?
Posted by hoggstephen on August 21, 2008 at 9:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You can be sure that Bill Redmond will be the same decent human being, as a judge, as he was as a prosecutor. Ventura got lucky with his appointment.
Posted by goldcoaster on August 21, 2008 at 11:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All I can say is, it's about time. Bill is the best and most honest attorney around. He could be THE D.A.
Best of luck to you buddy. Bill, you'll know who this is when I say, We hooked em' and booked em'
You ARE the man.
(Requires free registration.)
Article discussions on this site are to support community debates of issues related to our stories and editorials.
Discussions should not stray from the subject of the story or editorial.
We do not allow the following:
We reserve the right to delete threads and/or ban users for these or other reasons we deem necessary.
Opinions are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.