Two judicial candidates Thursday night touted their qualifications, professional backgrounds, life experiences and other assets they would bring to the bench if elected by voters June 3.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Jeff Bennett and Assistant County Counsel Roberto Orellana appeared at a forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Ventura County.

About 40 people attended the event held at The Star in Camarillo.

Orellana and Bennett said that when they heard Ventura County Superior Court Judge Bruce Clark was going to retire they got calls from friends and supporters urging them to run for this post.

Orellana said he heard Bennett was running and later saw the news conference Bennett held outside the Hall of Justice in Ventura.

He decided to run since nobody else had filed.

"I decided to give the voters a choice," Orellana said.

'A rare opportunity'

Bennett said a few of the judges in the courthouse along with his boss, District Attorney Greg Totten, and others encouraged him to run.

"It is a rare opportunity and a pleasure to go through this process," Bennett said.

He also has submitted his application for a judicial appointment by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Orellana said he has not submitted an application.

There are four judicial vacancies in Ventura County as a result of judges retiring. Clark will retire next year.

Advantages of life experience

Star Editor and Vice President Joe Howry served as the moderator for the forum and asked the questions. The candidates also fielded a few questions from the audience.

Both candidates talked about how their life experiences would help them on the bench.

Bennett said his many years in varied areas such as law enforcement and numerous community activities will help him as a judge. He said his hobby of amateur astronomy taught him patience because sometimes he will "sit out in the cold all night long taking photographs."

Orellana said he has recently been a client in court involving a trust. He learned some hard lessons about not being able to talk in the courtroom and waiting and hoping for a just ruling, he said.

This experience helped him understand that openness and fairness are essential when meting out justice.

Both said they would like to see improvements in whittling down the criminal and civil case backlog. Bennett said Ventura County needs new courtrooms because of its population growth. He would like to see technology better incorporated in the courthouse to improve the criminal justice system, and more courtrooms in East Ventura County.

Orellana said there should be outreach to educate people on how to use, but not abuse, the justice system.

Legal battle addressed

The candidates also discussed Totten's recent and highly publicized legal battle with now-retired Superior Court Judge Arturo Gutierrez, who prosecutors tried to disqualify or "paper" because they felt his sentences were too lenient.

Orellana and Bennett said the law is clear that attorneys, including prosecutors, have a right to disqualify a judge for any reason. However, Orellana said this right should not be abused or used routinely.

Earlier this year, three county appellate court judges ruled against the district attorney in this matter.

Orellana, 54, is a Santa Paula resident and a graduate of the University of Notre Dame School of Law. He was admitted to the California State Bar Association in 1986.

Bennett, 52, is an Ojai resident. He is a graduate of Santa Barbara College School of Law and was admitted to the Bar Association in 1988.

For more information about these two judicial candidates and the endorsements they have received, go to their Web sites: Orellana, roberto4judge.com; and Bennett, JeffBennettforJudge.com.