Markham announces candidacy for Lake County Superior Court judge
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A well-known Lake County attorney has become the first person to declare his candidacy in next year’s judicial race.
J. David Markham announced his candidacy for the position of Lake County Superior Court judge for Department 4, the seat currently held by Judge Stephen Hedstrom.
Hedstrom this week announced he will not seek a fourth six-year term next year. His current term will expire in January of 2019, as Lake County News has reported.
“For many years, Judge Stephen O. Hedstrom has provided the people of Lake County with integrity and professionalism from the bench. Now that he is retiring, I am seeking the office of Lake County Superior Court judge, Department 4, to continue his outstanding legacy of service to our communities,” said Markham.
Markham said he is committed to providing equality under the law and access to justice for all residents – regardless of income.
He said that’s why he serves as a partner at Lake Indigent Defense LLP, the firm that administers the county’s indigent defense contract, in order to help protect the legal rights of the neediest and most vulnerable Lake County residents.
“As a Superior Court judge, I pledge to protect public safety while upholding the highest standards of fairness, integrity and justice in the courtroom. I want crime victims to have their voices heard and make sure that those convicted of violent crimes receive a just punishment for their actions,” Markham said.
“I will bring a broad and balanced range of experience in criminal, family, civil and real estate law to our Superior Court. My extensive service as both a prosecutor and a defense attorney will help to ensure all parties receive a fair trial in criminal cases. And I will use my experience in the area of family law to provide a fair and just resolution for all concerned when Lake County families are involved in a legal dispute,” he said.
Markham comes from a proud tradition of Lake County public service.
His father is a career law enforcement professional who retired from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office after 36 years of service, while his mother retired from the Konocti Unified School District.
Markham grew up in the city of Clearlake and is a graduate of Lower Lake High School. He earned an economics degree at the University of California at Davis and a law degree at Empire College School of Law in Santa Rosa.
Over the past 17 years, Markham has built an extensive record of leadership in the legal community, including service as a Lake County Deputy district attorney from 2001 to 2003, an associate at the local law firm of Alvord and Ewing from 2003 to 2004, and since 2004 as a sole practitioner in Lakeport.
He is certified by the State Bar of California’s Board of Legal Specialization as a Criminal Law Specialist and he has championed legal defense for the needy through his law partnership, Lake Indigent Defense, LLP.
In addition, Markham serves as an Adjunct professor at the Lake County campus of Woodland Community College, where he teaches administration of justice classes, including: introduction to criminal justice; criminal law; criminal procedure; and juvenile law.
He serves as vice president of the Lake County Bar Association and chief financial officer/treasurer of the Friends of Taylor Observatory.
Additionally, he regularly volunteers as a judge at Lake County’s annual high school mock trial and academic decathlon competitions.