| Stirling Named New Assistant
Director PHX (CAAP) - Robert Bruce Stirling, II was hired as the new Assistant Director of the Phoenix Public Defender’s Office effective October 5, 1998. Stirling was admitted to the Arizona Bar in 1979. He has a broad background in both criminal and civil litigation. Stirling was in private practice with Dennis T. Fenwick and Muriel Jeanette Smith-Flores (now appellate court judge - Division 2) before becoming Chief Deputy County Attorney in Santa Cruz County. Unsuccessful in his bid to become Santa Cruz County Attorney in 1984, Stirling came to Phoenix in 1985. He joined Struckmeyer and Wilson, where he litigated injury cases resulting in wrongful deaths and quadriplegia. In 1989 Stirling opened his own office and obtained a CAA contract. He was appointed a judge pro tem in Maricopa County Superior Court, where he has presided over both the civil and criminal jury trials. Appointed Counsel To Assist All In-Custody Defendants All CAAs are asked to assist all in-custody defendants, even when the CAA is not specifically appointed as counsel. Left to face prosecutors and the Court without the benefit of counsel, too many people have become victims of the system . If all in-custody defendants are helped, injustices will be greatly reduced. |
Judge Klausner To
Division 10 Judge Karen Klausner has been temporarily assigned to Division 10 while Judge Oscar Sutton is away on leave. Informed sources report Judge Klausner will remain in Division 10 at least through the end of December, 1998, when Judge Sutton is expected to return. Eligibility's Annette Vasquez Completes Ten Years With The City Our own Annette Vasquez just completed ten years as an employee with the City of Phoenix. During that time Ms. Vasquez worked for Court Records, and she spent the last four years as part of the Contract Attorney’s Office. She was awarded a gift for her demonstrated dedication to her job. Ms. Vasquez always gives her best efforts. When asked to comment on her accomplishment, Ms. Vasquez was typically modest and speechless. Her supervisor, Jeanie Rau, said she hand-picked Ms. Vasquez for her job. Her calm demeanor is a tremendous help in keeping the office under control when things get busy. Please help us congratulate her for a job well done! Frank O. Alcantar Enters Wedded Bliss The Eligibility Office’s Frank O. Alcantar married the enchanting Rocio Hernandez last Saturday, November 7, 1998 at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, located at 5614 West Orangewood Avenue in Glendale. |
The ceremony was performed by the Reverend Charlie Goraieb. A reception was held in a large ballroom, where over 200 guests were treated to a delicious sit-down dinner. The lovely bride and groom and guests danced the night away to live Latin music. The traditional toast to the newlyweds and the tossing of the bouquet and garter were the highlights of the evening for the guests. Mr. and Mrs. Alcantar honeymooned for more than a week at the beach in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico. Juries To Hear Suspended License Cases Neal Bassett did it again. This time he convinced Division One of the Arizona Court of Appeals that DUI-suspended license cases are jury eligible "for the same reasons that a person charged with DUI is entitled to a jury in Arizona," according to Presiding Judge E. G. Noyes. The opinion resulted from a special action filed by Bassett, whose client was found guilty following a bench trial. On appeal Bassett apparently argued for the first time that his client had the right to a jury trial. The superior court denied relief, resulting in the special action. The Phoenix City Prosecutor’s Office is appealing the decision. |