Says She’s Taking ‘High Road’ : Judge Thomas Drops Her Battle to Keep Court Post

Los Angeles Municipal Court Judge Maxine F. Thomas announced today that she has given up her fight to win back her job as presiding judge and no longer plans to file a lawsuit to have her removal invalidated.

“Because of my deep respect for the orderly administration of justice, I have decided to put the good of the public and also the good of the court first in this matter,” the 39-year-old judge told reporters.

Flanked by County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn and her attorney, Godfrey Isaac, Thomas held a news conference in a courtroom in the Criminal Courts Building, to which she was assigned after she was recalled as presiding judge last week on a 57-13 vote by her colleagues.

Doorway Blocked

After the recall, Thomas said she still considered herself the presiding judge and would continue to fill the role. On Friday morning, her successor, Judge George W. Trammell, posted marshals outside Division 1 to block Thomas’ access and prevent a confrontation.

Although maintaining that she still believes her ouster was “unfair” and “unjust,” Thomas, who faces a runoff election this November in her bid to become a Superior Court judge, said today she was taking the “high road” and promised she would not disrupt the court.

Noting that she had received her first case assignment shortly before the news conference, she said she would begin hearing criminal cases this afternoon.

No Legal Action

In answer to questions, Thomas said she had decided not to go forward with legal action after she realized that her quarrel with her colleagues had become national news.

Hahn said he had advised Thomas this morning to back off from a potentially costly fight even though she had an “outstanding” record and had administered the Municipal Court with “dignity.”

“I thought she should stand tall and say the court comes first,” the supervisor said.

Fellow judges moved to oust Thomas as presiding judge when criticism began to mount that she was using her job to enhance her prospects for winning a Superior Court seat.