The retirement of two Kern County Superior Court judges presents local voters with the rare opportunity to select replacements.

Most often, judges are appointed by the governor. If they face no opposition when their terms expire, they return to office without undergoing the rigors of an election.

But the timing of the retirements of Judge H.A. “Skip” Staley and Judge Clarence Westra places the seats on the June 3 ballot. It is an opportunity for voters to weigh the qualities of those who will be weighing justice in Kern.

Voters are fortunate to have several qualified members of the local legal profession stepping forward to seek election to these two seats. After meeting with candidates in both races, The Californian’s editorial board enthusiastically makes the following recommendations:

Commissioner Larry Errea is the most qualified and experienced of two candidates vying for Judge Staley’s seat. Errea has the judicial temperament and experience — both as a judge and attorney — to earn voters’ support.

Errea grew up in Bakersfield, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Cal State Bakersfield and a law degree from Whittier College School of Law. He practiced law in Bakersfield for 25 years before being appointed Superior Court commissioner in 2006. Errea is a thoughtful and knowledgeable commissioner who should be elevated to Superior Court judge.

His opponent, Olaf Landsgaard, is a Rosamond attorney who lacks the judicial experience that Errea will bring to the post.

Six Bakersfield attorneys are vying to replace Judge Westra. If a single candidate does not obtain a majority vote, the two top vote-getters will face each other in the November election. Those two candidates should be Charles “Chip” Brehmer and Holly Mitchell.

Brehmer is a private attorney who has prepared himself well — through specialized courses, as well as experience — for a judgeship. Brehmer earned a law degree from Wesemann School of Law in Valparaiso, Ind., and completed the mediation certification program at Pepperdine University School of Law. He has practiced law in Bakersfield since 1993 and has  experience as a Kern County Superior Court judge pro-tem and judicial arbitrator.

A 1982 graduate of Howard University School of Law, Mitchell is a Kern County deputy district attorney. An experienced prosecutor, Mitchell’s career also has included diverse assignments as a supervisor with the office’s child support division and truancy program. Mitchell will bring unique insights and experience to the Superior Court bench.

Others in the race include private attorneys Matt Brady, Michael Gardina and Frank Butkiewicz, and public defender Tony Heider.