FALSD Judicial Evaluation and Candidate Endorsements
In order to be considered for endorsement by FALSD, the candidate must submit all of the following to the President of FALSD at falsd1@gmail.com:
1. A cover letter, not to exceed three (3) pages, answering the following questions:
a. What position or seat are you seeking to fill?
b. What qualifications do you possess that make you the best candidate for the position or seat sought?
c. In the last five (5) years, what active involvement did you have in community activities or community service?
d. In the last five (5) years, how have you shown your support for FALSD and the Asian/Pacific Islander community?
e. To whom should the endorsement letter be sent in the event FALSD decides to endorse you?
2. A resume or curriculum vitae
FALSD may refuse to consider a request for endorsement that fails to provide all of the information listed above. If the candidate's request is time-sensitive, the candidate should communicate to the President of FALSD any deadlines relating to the request.
FALSD receives many requests for endorsement from candidates for judicial election, judicial appointment, and election to other offices, including but not limited to the San Diego County Bar Association Board of Directors. The FALSD Board of Directors evaluates each request for endorsement on a case-by-case, individual basis.
The purpose of FALSD’s Judicial Evaluation and Candidate Endorsements process is to identify and support those individuals who share FALSD’s mission as well as those individuals who will bring the highest level of qualifications, integrity and professionalism to the office/position they seek to fill.
FALSD requires candidates seeking an endorsement to submit their request through FALSD’s confidential Judicial Evaluation and Candidate Endorsement process. The FALSD board will generally endorse only one candidate in a contested judicial election. FALSD has no limitation on the number of judicial endorsements for the same position based on appointment. In non-judicial elections where multiple seats are open, FALSD may endorse up to as many candidates as the number of seats that are to be filled.
In making its endorsement decision, FALSD considers a variety of factors in addition to professional experience including, but not limited to, the candidate's involvement in and support of FALSD and the Asian/Pacific Islander (“API”) community, both current and historical; the candidate’s involvement in and support of other diversity communities; the candidate’s involvement in local and national bar associations; the candidate’s involvement in community activities; the candidate’s commitment to diversity; the candidate’s reputation in the community for integrity, character, and temperament; the candidate’s intelligence and communication skills, both written and oral. For judicial candidates, FALSD evaluates and examines the candidate’s qualifications, background, and experience in an equal and fair manner consistent with Title 7 of the State Bar of California Rules as well as the criteria considered by the San Diego County Bar Association’s Judicial Candidate Rating.
Upon receipt of a candidate’s written request containing all the necessary information, an interview will be scheduled for the next board meeting. Materials must be submitted at least one week before the next board meeting to have adequate time to review the candidate’s submitted documents. FALSD reserves the right to decline endorsement requests based on insufficient time for its evaluation and reserves the right to decline to review any request for endorsement in its discretion. Upon completion of the interview, the board will vote on whether or not to endorse the candidate, and FALSD will timely notify the candidate of its decision. A FALSD endorsement applies only to the particular candidate for the particular election and office/seat that the candidate seeks. Candidates who received prior endorsements from FALSD should re-submit materials if they are seeking a new endorsement.