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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Contra Costa County, CA March 2, 2004 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Denise Marie (Dunn) Schmidt

Candidate for
Superior Court Judge; County of Contra Costa

This information is provided by the candidate

I have lived in the Bay Area my entire life, attending school, working professionally and providing service to our community. I began my legal career with the Alameda County District Attorney's Office in the Family Support Division. I was support staff, interviewing witnesses, defendants, enforcing orders and working on welfare fraud cases.

In 1986, I began working for the Northern California Courts of Appeal. My work included reviewing volumes of transcripts for errors made by Municipal and Superior Court Judges and attorneys which violated due process requirements as set forth by the Constitution. I presented oral arguments to the Courts of Appeal in Fresno, San Francisco and Sacramento.
In 1990, my criminal law work became eclipsed by my work in the field of civil litigation. I worked in both state and federal courts both in California and Oregon. I served as an attorney in a class action lawsuit in which we secured for the class protection from sulfuric acid fallout and a mandate that a preventative maintenance program be maintained to address future problems. That program is still in place today.
In 1998, I was appointed by the judges in the Walnut Creek Court to sit on the bench as an Acting Court Commissioner and Judge Pro Tem. In this capacity, I was assigned a series of cases which ultimately resulted in savings to residents of a common interest development a present day value of ten million dollars. With the consolidation of the courts, and the elimination of the Municipal Courts in our county, I was asked to sit on the bench in Concord and, later, Pittsburg Court.
I have been a member of the Contra Costa Bar Association for fourteen years and was Chairperson for the Environmental Law Section. I have authored the following articles for the "Contractor Connection" and the "Contra Costa Lawyer" magazines; "The Handling, Storage and Disposal of Toxic Materials" and Electric and Magnetic Fields, Human Health and Resulting Litigation".
I have served extensively in the Contra Costa community including being a member of the Contra Costa Commission for Women; former member of the Board of Directors for CASR, a non-profit organization that advocates on behalf of neglected and abused children; and a speaker at local high schools in programs targeted to high school seniors regarding potential criminal behavior and the avoidance of at-risk situations.
I am a former member of the Board of Directors of Mount Diablo Parent Co-Op Nursery School; State PTA; Parents Association at DLS and Carondelet High Schools; Girl Scout and Cub Scout Leader; and Volunteer for the Walnut Creek Soccer and Multi-League Programs.
I am deeply committed to this community as is evidenced by my work both on and off the bench. I will continue to work with the police officers associations and the members of our community to provide safe neighborhoods, safe schools and safe trails. I am very pleased to be endorsed by the Antioch, Brentwood, Clayton, Concord, Pittsburg and Pleasant Hill Police Officers Associations and Squad 320, the local chapter of the CHP.
I hope that I can count on your support.

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: February 5, 2004 13:15
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