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How do you judge a judge? Good question. We are going to find out in the next few months as nine people compete for two open seats on the Kern County bench.

Actually, 11 seats are “open.” But only two judges are retiring and did not file “declarations” to run for reelection. Nine did. And while local lawyers are free to “contest” incumbent judges seeking reelection, that is seldom done. Traditionally, an incumbent serves unopposed as long as he or she wishes. Only judges who antagonize the public or legal community have drawn opposition.

Superior Court judges who face no opposition are even spared the bother of having their names appear on the ballot. They simply slide into one term after another — leading many citizens to conclude  judges are not really elected.

But that has changed with the retirements of judges H.A. “Skip” Staley and Clarence Westra. As the candidate filing deadline neared, it appeared these two judicial seats would be uncontested elections. Only one candidate in each race — Commissioner Larry Errea, vying for Staley’s seat, and Bakersfield attorney Charles “Chip” Brehmer, for Westra’s — had declared intentions to run.

But that changed when The Californian published a news story and editorial last Friday alerting the community to the opportunity for voters to fill these seats. Like toadstools on your front lawn, a total of nine candidates popped up.

In addition to Errea, attorneys Ronald Carter and Olaf Landsgaard filed for Staley’s seat. Elections officials contend Carter is ineligible to run. He is disputing the ruling. In addition to Brehmer, attorneys Michael Gardina, Frank Butkiewicz, Holly Mitchell, Matt Brady and Tony Heider filed for Westra’s.

So, how will voters judge these candidates’ merits?

A good place to start is the California Bar Association, which maintains a Web page (www.calbar.ca.gov) where you can find information, including any discipline taken against a lawyer. You also can ask friends, neighbors, colleagues and others with ties to the local courts. It’s a tight community. Bad apples are easily identified.

And The Californian will help. Like all political candidates, those running for judge were sent “questionnaires” — job applications seeking basic educational and employment history. Candidates were asked to respond to supplemental questions specific to being a judge.

Candidate information is posted on the Opinion section’s FIRED UP! blog. Initial information came from the California Bar Association Web page.

You are invited to post your comments — testimonials and concerns — as well as questions regarding the candidates. Candidates are free to go onto the blog and respond. If they choose not to, The Californian will try to answer your questions.