For Palm Beach County Court, keep Judge Damico

If Boca Raton attorney Karen Velez were running against a different judge in Palm Beach County, she might have a case that voters should replace the incumbent. But Velez is running against Paul Damico in Group 9, and she has no case.

Velez told the Sun Sentinel Editorial Board she’s “more than qualified.” The New York City native worked for 13 years as a public defender in Broward before opening a practice focusing on family law. Representing real people is excellent preparation for county court, with its heavy caseloads of criminal traffic cases, small claims and landlord-tenant disputes, where many litigants can’t afford a lawyer and represent themselves.

Velez’s main arguments are that Damico has never faced voters and that the county needs more women on the bench. Those aren’t nearly enough to justify removing a highly competent and respected judge.

It’s true that Damico hasn’t had to face voters since Gov. Jeb Bush appointed him in 2001. But that lack of opposition stems from Damico’s splendid record and a legal culture that discourages challenging sitting judges.

Every two years, the Palm Beach County Bar Association asks members to anonymously evaluate judges. The ratings are subjective, but our experience is that scores accurately reflect judicial performance.

In the most recent evaluation in 2021,

Damico ranked highest of all 18 county judges. Of 29 respondents, at least 26 — and usually more — rated him excellent in every category.

A former public defender and prosecutor, the 62-year-old Damico, a Jupiter resident, calls it his “dream job” to be a county judge. Damico has never sought appointment to the circuit bench and said he never will.

“The citizens deserve an experienced judge,” Damico wrote in a Sun Sentinel questionnaire.

Damico says he works “in a classroom, not just a courtroom.” He instructs all court personnel on how to provide “the utmost respect” for litigants. He has been an adjunct professor at Barry University’s law school for 25 years.

He has raised about $130,000, including a $100,000 loan to his campaign. Velez has raised $27,000, with $21,500 of that in personal loans.

A better move for Velez, 51, would have been to challenge Circuit Judge Marni Bryson. The state Supreme Court reprimanded Bryson for missing more time than her leave allowed and fined her $37,500. Bryson scored low in Bar evaluations but easily won a new six-year term when no one challenged her.

Judicial races are nonpartisan, so all Palm Beach County voters are eligible to cast ballots in this race on the Aug. 23 ballot.

We agree on the need for more diversity on the bench. But diversity alone is not a reason to unseat an excellent incumbent. The Sun Sentinel recommends Paul Damico for Palm Beach County Court Group 9.

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