Press

Click for our media resources page, featuring high res photos.

Local Attorneys Overwhelmingly Support Mark Hood

Bar Association Plebiscite Shows 78% Responding Prefer Hood

Pacific Grove, CA, October 8, 2008 - The Monterey County Bar Association has released the results of a plebiscite held last week: 60 out of 77 Bar Association members responding supported criminal prosecutor Mark Hood for Superior Court Judge.

The non-binding referendum is significant because it represents a strong vote of confidence by local attorneys, who know well the quaifications for a successful local judge.

Most Endorsing Judges Endorse Hood

The Bar Association members join local judges in supporting Hood.

Of the 14 Monterey County judges making endorsements in the November 4 election, 11 have endorsed Mark Hood's candidacy. They include Presiding Judge Russell Scott and Judge John Phillips (Ret.), founder of the Rancho Cielo youth program.

Law Enforcement Organizations Endorsing Hood

Hood is also endorsed by the Monterey County Deputy Sheriff's Association, the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the Operating Engineers #3 (representing police), and a long list of community leaders. They can all be found on the Endorsements page at ElectMarkHood.com.

Pacific Grove resident Mark Hood has deep experience as a criminal prosecutor, with 19 years as a deputy district attorney, handling major cases including murder, kidnapping, embezzlement,identity theft and crime by gang members.

Hood also has significant experience as a civil attorney, having practiced with a major San Francisco law firm, Long & Levit. He graduated with great distinction from the McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific and cum laude from San Francisco State University.

Tough on violent crime, but committed to fairness

Hood is known for being tough on violent crime and for being equally tough in ensuring that justice is done fairly. Defense attorney Javier Rios described Hood as "a highly skilled, straight-shooting prosecutor of unquestioned integrity."

In his campaign speeches and literature, Hood emphasizes the need for both enforcement and prevention in reducing crime. "I believe in tough sentences for violent criminals and gang members, and intervention to keep youth out of trouble in the first place," said Hood.

Great Majority of Endorsing Judges Endorse Mark Hood

Presiding Judge and others joined by attorneys, peace officer associations
and community leaders

Pacific Grove, CA, September 16, 2008 - Of the Monterey County judges making endorsements in the November 4 election, the great majority have come out in favor of prosecutor Mark Hood. So far 10 out of 13 endorsing judges have endorsed his candidacy. They include Presiding Judge Russell Scott and Judge John Phillips (Ret.), founder of the Rancho Cielo youth program.

"Mark Hood has the knowledge, experience and character to be a great asset to the Monterey County Courts," said Judge Phillips.

The Monterey County judges endorsing Mark Hood are:

Honorable William Curtis, Superior Court Judge (Ret.), former Monterey County DA; Honorable Larry Hayes; Honorable Robert M. Hinrichs (Ret.); Honorable Efren Iglesia; Honorable Albert Maldonado; Honorable Robert Moody(Ret.); Honorable John Phillips (Ret.); Honorable Jonathan Price; Honorable Russell Scott, Monterey County Presiding Judge and Honorable Richard Silver (Ret.).

Joining the judges are the Monterey County Deputy Sheriff's Association, the Peace Officers Research Association of California (PORAC), the Operating Engineers #3 (representing police), and a long list of attorneys and community leaders. They can all be found on the Endorsements page at ElectMarkHood.com.

Tough on violent crime, but committed to fairness

More information is available at ElectMarkHood.com.

High resolution photos can be downloaded from ElectMarkHood.com/media-resources.

Why I'm Running

By MARK HOOD
Monterey Herald
5/3/08

In Monterey County there are eight criminal cases for every civil case. Unfortunately, those numbers include more and more gang crimes. I am running for judge because my experience has prepared me for the challenges we face now.

I have 19 years of experience as a prosecutor, and have been a civil attorney with a major law firm. I am the only candidate with this depth of courtroom experience, and the only one who has been both a prosecutor and a civil attorney in many areas — including real estate, construction and insurance law.

I have handled cases of murder, kidnapping, embezzlement, assault, crime by gang members and more. The kidnapping of the president of Adobe Systems was one of my cases, as was the case of the brutal "Rolex robbers," which took two years of investigation. It's been hard, challenging work, but I am glad that I can now offer the knowledge I have gained to become Monterey County's next judge.

I have a reputation for being tough on violent crime, but also for being committed to fair, equal justice. I strive for a comprehensive approach to keep youths out of trouble in the first place. I am proud that I am endorsed not just by judges and attorneys, but by leading law enforcement organizations, and even defense attorneys who have opposed me in court.

My goal is to help Monterey County's courts set a standard of excellence for the state. I would be honored if you gave me that opportunity.

Mark Hood Gains Major Law Enforcement Endorsements

Prosecutor seen as well-matched for County's 8-1 ratio of criminal vs. civil cases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pacific Grove, CA - April 26, 2008 - Organizations representing Monterey County sheriffs, police and court employees have given their endorsement to prosecutor Mark Hood's candidacy for Superior Court Judge.

Among those endorsing Hood:

Monterey County Deputy Sheriff's Association
Peace Officers Research Association of California (Central Coast)
Operating Engineers Local 3 (AFL-CIO, representing police)
Service Employees International Union Local 521 (representing court employees).

Judge's Election a Rare Event

Only been one opportunity to elect a judge to a vacant superior court seat in at least three decades

By VIRGINIA HENNESSEY
Monterey Herald
04/21/2008
http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_8991142

In almost all cases, judges are appointed in California, usually by a governor of the same political party.

That makes the June 3 challenged election to replace retired Judge Stephen Sillman on the Monterey County Superior Court bench all the more historic. Voters have had only one other opportunity — in 1994 — to elect a judge to a vacant Monterey County Superior Court seat in at least three decades.

The candidates are diverse. Todd Hornik and Mark Hood, are prosecutors. Luma Serrano Williams, is a state workers' compensation fund lawyer who has tried criminal cases for the public defender and, as a certified law clerk, for the prosecution. And Tom Wills has a private practice that has handled everything from capital criminal defense to personal injury law.

Judicial candidates agree: Gangs are biggest problem

By KELLY NIX
Carmel Pine Cone, April 18, 2008
http://www.pineconearchive.com/080418-3.htm

ELECTING SUPERIOR court judges is something voters do all the time.

But usually they’re only given the opportunity to reelect judges who were first appointed by the governor. Because incumbents have an advantage, judicial races don’t draw much interest.

On June 3, however, there will be serious competition among four candidates to replace Stephen Sillman, who retired last week after 25 years on the Monterey County Superior Court bench. Because his retirement came at the end of his term, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wasn’t allowed to pick his successor. Instead, the voters will do that.

The newly elected judge will have his work cut out for him. According to candidate Mark Hood, last year there were more than 89,000 criminal cases filed in Monterey County handled by 14 judges. And there are thousands of civil cases filed every year.

The judicial seat up for grabs is an all-purpose assignment, which means the judge may serve in civil and criminal courts. Not surprisingly, the four candidates agree gang violence is the probably the biggest legal problem in the county.

Mark Hood

Candidate Mark Hood, 48, has spent the last 19 years prosecuting thousands of criminal cases including murder, arson, gang crimes and other cases.

He believes in tough sentences for violent criminals and a “comprehensive approach to keep youth out of gangs in the first place.”

Help Mark Win

Received 78% of the vote from the responding members of the Monterey County Bar Association plebiscite (60 out of 77 Bar Association Members)

Endorsed by 80% of the local judges endorsing in this race (12 out of 15)

Endorsed by the largest law enforcement organization in Monterey County and in the State

Also endorsed by:
~ Hon. Justice Nat A. Agliano(Ret.), Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeals
~ Hon.Judge William Curtis (Ret.), Former Monterey County District Attorney
~ Hon.Judge Robert Foley
~ Hon.Judge Larry Hayes
~ Hon.Judge Alan Hedegard (Ret.)
~ Hon.Judge Robert M. Hinrichs (Ret.)
~ Hon.Judge Efren Iglesia
~ Hon.Judge Albert Maldonado
~ Hon.Judge Robert Moody (Ret.)
~ Hon.Judge John Phillips (Ret.)
~ Hon.Judge Jonathan Price
~ Hon.Judge Russell Scott, Monterey County Presiding Judge
~ Hon.Judge Richard Silver (Ret.)
_________________________
~ Chuck Della Sala, Mayor of Monterey
~ Joe Grebmeier, Greenfield Police Chief
~ Monterey County Business PAC

~ The Monterey County Deputy Sheriffs' Association
~ Monterey County Hospitality Association
~ Operating Engineers Local #3
~ Peace Officers Research Association of California
~ More on our Endorsements page...