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Judge Eugene Balonon: Returning to the Courtroom |
| "It's been busy," Judge Balonon responds when asked how his first few months on the bench have been. It is late January and he has just started his ninth jury trial since his appointment by Governor Schwarzenegger on September 9, 2005. Judge Balonon fills the vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Jeffrey L. Gunther. On the day I stopped by his courtroom to chat, his bailiff explained that everyone was running a bit late due to "a little incident in the hall." Later, when pressed for more details, Balonon explained that in the neighboring courtroom a sentenced defendant apparently turned and started walking towards the exit doors of the courtroom. As the bailiff moved to stop the defendant, members of the audience jumped on the bailiff. Other bailiffs rushed to assist and a ruckus ensued, spilling into the hallway - right in front of Judge Balonon's waiting jurors. No stranger to hard work, Gene Balonon is not used to having a lot of "down time." Over his twenty-plus years in law, Balonon tried his hand at private practice, and taught for three years at Lincoln Law School. However, he found public service the most fulfilling and has spent the bulk of his career working on behalf of us taxpayers. Balonon has worked for the Sacramento County District Attorney's Office, the Office of Criminal Justice Planning, the California Lottery, and the California Gambling Control Commission. On the policy and management side, he has directed state agencies, worked on budgets and legislation, negotiated million-dollar contracts, reorganized offices, and implemented tribalstate compacts regarding tribal casinos. While he enjoyed working in state offices, he discovered that he missed the excitement of trial work. On the litigation side, he has prosecuted a variety of criminal cases, including high profile and sensitive matters. His last case at the DA's office involved nine defense attorneys representing five defendants in a sexual assault trial, over fifty witnesses, and a Kelly-Frye hearing regarding DNA evidence. Former coworkers describe Balonon as highly organized and willing to roll up his sleeves and dive into work. Balonon has been a member of the Asian Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers Association and the Sacramento County Attorneys Association. His background in Criminal Justice and tenure at the District Attorney's Office allowed Balonon to jump into downtown's criminal calendar without much orientation. He started in Department 20 but, with recent movement at the Schaber Courthouse, Balonon is now in Department 14 - right down the hall. While his courtroom is mostly filled with criminal trials, he also presides over civil law and motion matters and the OEX calendar. He puts in a lot of late hours, often aided by a variety of caffeinated beverages from Starbucks. When he's not on the bench or doing his own research for a case, Balonon is very involved in his children's lives, which currently includes attending a lot of swim meets. "Leadership is not the exercise of power so much as it is the empowerment of others," reads a plaque in Balonon's office. In this writer's personal experience, Balonon's management style is to allow staff to do their jobs, rather than to micromanage. For attorneys appearing before him, he'll expect preparation and a professional attitude. He doesn't like wasting the jury's time, so heed this warning and keep things moving. Practice courtesy towards everyone and don't interrupt; in return, Judge Balonon will treat everyone fairly and will explain the basis of any ruling. March / April 2006 |