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Frank Butkiewicz is a Bakersfield attorney. The following information was obtained from the California Bar Association Web site. This entry will be updated when he responds to The Californian's candidate questionnaire and supplemental judicial questions. You are invited to post your comments and questions concerning this candidate. The candidate is invited to respond directly onto this blog. If he chooses not to, The Californian will attempt to obtain answers to your questions.

Undergraduate School: State University New York

Law School: California Western School of Law, San Diego

Legal Specialist: Criminal law (State Bar of California)

Status: Active

Admitted to the California Bar: April 30, 1981

Disciplinary record: None

CALIFORNIAN QUESTIONNAIRE

Name: Frank Butkiewicz

Other name(s) used: Frank S. Butkiewicz, Jr.

Office sought: Judge of the Kern County Superior Court, Office #30

Born: 1953 in Wilkes Barre, PA

Spouse’s name: Imelda Ceja-Butkiewicz

Number of children and ages: son, 27; daughter, 22

Current occupation/employer: Attorney at Law, Sole Practitioner

List employment history (past 20 years):

1981-1986:     Deputy Public Defender with the Office of the Kern County Public Defender

1986-1995:     Attorney with the law firm of Chain/Younger

1995-Present:     Sole practitioner

Professional licenses: 1981-Present: Licensed to practice law in State of California.
State Bar No. 97261

How long have you lived in the jurisdiction you seek election? Since 1981

Political offices you have held: None

Political offices you has sought: (dates, locations, outcomes): None previously

Board memberships/Community activities:

2004-Present:     Board of Directors of the Kern County Bar Association
2007-Present:     Chairman, Oversight Committee of the Kern County       & nbsp;       &n bsp;       &nb sp;       &nbs p; Indigent Defense Program
1986-Present:     Member of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

Education:

1973:      A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences; Broome Community College, Binghamton, NY
1975:    B.A. degree in Political Science; State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY
1979:      J.D. Degree; California Western School of Law, San Diego, CA

Military: None

Describe anything you have published, invented, discovered, painted, etc., and events or hobbies that would be interesting for a biographical story:

Recipient of Eagle Scout Award; Hobbies: Cooking (9/10/03 Bakersfield Californian article as neighborhood cook), Tennis, Gym Exercise

Campaign committee members: Lupe Carrillo, Treasurer

State or Federal campaign ID number: Not yet assigned

List all criminal convictions or pleas in this county and others
(Include year): None

List all civil court judgments against you or any business you have had a financial interest in (partnership, sole proprietor, corporation) in this county and others (include year): None

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

Why did you become a lawyer?

I did not come from a family of lawyers. In fact, my grandfather was a Polish immigrant who worked as a coal miner in Pennsylvania.  But in high school I remember reading the book “To Kill a Mockingbird” and it left an indelible impression about the courage, compassion, struggles, and success of a lawyer who fought against inequality. Since that moment, I realized I wanted to become a trial lawyer and from then on I focused my education towards attaining this goal.

I graduated magna cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany and earned my B.A. degree in political science. During my undergraduate studies, I was accepted into two honors fraternities and I also served as Chairman of the State University Judicial Board. I earned my law degree from California Western School of Law in San Diego, California where I successfully competed in various moot court competitions. I was selected Chairman of the Advocacy Honors Board and admitted membership into the National Order of Barristers.

Have you been disciplined in any way by a Bar Association or successfully sued for malpractice?

    I have never been subjected to disciplinary action by any Bar Association and, to my knowledge, I have never had any malpractice judgments rendered against me.

Why do you want to become a judge?

    I would like to use my knowledge and experience to help people resolve their differences in a fair and impartial process. 
What is the nature of your law practice?

    I have been an attorney here in Bakersfield for 27 years and I am actively engaged in the practice of both civil as well as criminal law. During my career, I have handled over two thousand cases and I have been certified as a “specialist in criminal law” by the State Bar of California. 

    I serve on the Board of Directors of the Kern County Bar Association and I am Chairman of the Oversight Committee of the Kern County Indigent Defense Program.

    In addition to my duties as an attorney, I have also served as an adjunct professor in criminal law with the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University at Bakersfield from 1984-1989.

How often have you gone to trial?

    I go to trial every year. Last year I was counsel in five jury trials and this year I have cases set for trial before the June election date.

How often have you tried a case before a jury?

    I have tried over 100 cases before a jury.

Are you qualified to argue a case before the Supreme Court?

    I am licensed to practice law before the California Supreme Court. While I have never had the privilege of appearing before that particular court, I have argued both civil and criminal appellate cases before our 5th District Court of Appeal in Fresno.

Have you serve pro bono as an attorney for a client or organization?

    During my career I have represented clients at either no cost or a reduced fee. As part of my private practice I also offer free consultations.

Have you served as a judge pro tem, mediator, arbitrator or hearing officer? How often?

    Prior to the hiring of our Court Commissioners I served as a judge pro tem here in Bakersfield and in Lake Isabella. Approximately two years ago I also completed a training course for pro tem judges taught by the Honorable Craig Phillips and the Honorable Catherine Purcell. 

What is your judicial philosophy?

A judge has a very important societal role, responsibility and duty to be impartial, and not have an agenda to favor any special interest group or make decisions based on politics. To quote retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Conner: “a good judge applies the law as it is, not as she [or he] wants it to be.”