> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.mendolocal.news/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Primary Election: The Race for County Judgeship
- URL: https://www.mendolocal.news/primary-election-the-race-for-county/
- Published: 2026-04-23T04:48:12.000Z
- Updated: 2026-08-05T19:55:45.000Z
- Description: A summary of the MendocinoCoast.News questionnaire for Superior Court candidates
- Author: Elise Cox
- Tags: Elections, News, #Migrated-1785959471687, #Import 2026-08-05 12:53

MendocinoCoast.news sent the same set of written questions to both campaigns to help Mendocino County voters get to know the two candidates vying to serve as Superior Court Judge. The questionnaire focuses on judicial experience, approach to the work of the court, and the responsibilities of the bench. Judge Patrick M. Pekin returned his answers by the initial deadline. Attorney Colby J. Friend requested a short extension while on vacation and submitted his responses soon after.

The outcome will shape Mendocino County court operations, access to justice, and judicial culture through 2032.

Please visit [MendocinoCoast.news](https://mendocinocoast.news/in-their-own-words-two-attorneys-tell-their-stories-and-why-they-want-to-be-your-judge-in-a-rare-contested-race/?ref=mendolocal.news) to read the responses in full and view a side-by-side comparison.

## The Candidates

#### Judge Patrick M. Pekin (Incumbent)  

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/65/2b/652bc5ac-05cb-46a1-8194-e7dee6ac7adf/content/images/2026/08/04f99ae7-545c-4d49-b429-f60a353a496b_1440x1800-jpeg.jpg)

- Background: Age 51, lives in Mendocino, elected 2020, practicing law since 2003
- Experience: Extensive criminal defense background, presided over criminal, civil, family law, Behavioral Health Court, and Adult Drug Court
- Community ties: Volunteer firefighter, ocean rescue team member, Mock Trial coach, Save Our Coast Court advocate
- Endorsements: Every sitting and retired Mendocino County judge from last 15 years, DA, Public Defender, 4 county supervisors, law enforcement
- Campaign spending: \~$3,000

#### Attorney Colby J. Friend (Challenger)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/65/2b/652bc5ac-05cb-46a1-8194-e7dee6ac7adf/content/images/2026/08/cfeb4762-2768-4c89-bba9-294be487d596_1274x1536-jpeg.jpg)

- Background: Age 52, lives in Willits, practicing law since 2004
- Experience: Family law practice, no judicial experience, diverse work history (construction, restaurants, business owner)
- Community ties: Youth sports coach, community garden founder, theater participant, radio host, pro bono work
- Endorsements: Declines attorney/judge endorsements on ethical grounds; seeks community-based endorsements
- Campaign spending: Under $1,000 spent, up to $10,000 anticipated

### Key Issues in the Race

#### Juror Shortage Crisis

> **Pekin’s** view: County holds many jury trials; need for judicial districts; low turnout reflects civic disengagement  
>  
> **Friend**’s view: Compensation is inadequate; expand juror pool; create voluntary recall list of individuals willing to serve as jurors; improve experience

#### Coast Courthouse Access

> **Pekin**’s position: Deep Coast ties; commuted to Ukiah for years; supports technology solutions (remote interpreters, court reporters)  
>  
> **Friend**’s position: Supports satellite courts in every district; compares county size to Jamaica/Hawaii; funding is the core issue

“California Governmental Code Section 69640 permits the County of Los Angeles to create superior court districts, but does not extend that same authority to any other county. It would be helpful to have judicial districts in Mendocino County, but that is a question for the California Legislature.” — Patrick Pekin

“It is reasonable and wise for a county of this scale to have multiple, accessible court locations.” — Colby J. Friend

#### Public Access to Court Records

> **Pekin’**s stance: Must follow California Rules of Court requiring in-person access; encourages working with court clerks  
>  
> **Friend**’s stance: Strongly supports transparency; criticizes charging for digital copies; wants user-friendly searchable portals

#### Judicial Philosophy Differences

**Pekin** emphasizes:

- Following law and facts regardless of personal belief
- Experience with difficult cases (gang homicides, prison crimes)
- Patience combined with firmness
- Speaking in plain language to aid understanding

**Friend** emphasizes:

- Court prioritizes process over truth too often
- Every case deserves care and attention
- Broader life experience informs empathy
- Commitment to ensuring people feel heard

#### Significant Contrasts

**Endorsements**

> **Pekin:** Embraces establishment support from entire judicial community  
>  
> **Friend:** Rejects attorney/judge endorsements as ethically problematic, questions their appropriateness

**Experience**

> **Pekin:** 5 years as sitting judge, extensive criminal trial experience  
>  
> **Friend:** No judicial experience, family law focus, diverse non-legal work background

**Judicial Temperament**

> **Pekin**: Emphasizes empathy alongside fair an equal application of the law and communicating in plain language  
>  
> **Friend:** Emphasizes empathy from varied life experiences (cancer survivor, single parent, multiple careers)

**Court Culture**

> **Pekin:** Works within existing system, advocates for practical solutions  
>  
> **Friend:** Challenges court dress codes as First Amendment violations, questions judicial traditions

#### Systemic Issues

- **Geographic challenges:** County size (larger than Delaware, similar to Jamaica) creates access problems
- **Resource shortages:** Statewide lack of court reporters and certified interpreters
- **Consolidation trend:** Court operations centralizing in Ukiah, reducing Coast access
- **Technology gaps:** Odyssey system has problems; remote appearance pilot program expiring June 2026
- **Election timing:** June 2 election gives candidates only 4 months vs. November general election
- **Transparency limits:** California keeps judicial evaluations confidential; limited public records

#### Notable Details

- 2016 race was razor-thin: Pekin lost to Faulder by just 154 votes (49.51% vs 50.13%)
- If Friend wins: All 8 judges would live inland; no Coast-based judge
- Judge salary: \~$240,000 first year
- Pekin’s unique experience: Represented prisoners in Salinas Valley and Soledad State Prisons
- Friend’s creative compensation: Accepted figs, fish, books, tacos, paddleboard lessons for legal work
- Background checks: Friend has multiple minor traffic violations across states, he is currently a party in a family law case that is presided over by Judge FredRicco McCurry; Pekin’s records restricted

###