Ailing Judge Thomas Quits Campaign for Reelection

Citing emotional and physical problems requiring doctors’ care, embattled Municipal Judge Maxine Thomas has withdrawn her bid for reelection to the bench, according to her attorney, Johnnie L. Cochran Jr.

“Her doctors and she made the judgment that she is not well enough to run,” Cochran said. Thomas’ decision to withdraw was filed with the Los Angeles County registrar in a letter signed by Cochran on March 3.

Thomas was placed on a leave of absence from the bench in early November after complaints of erratic hours and bizarre behavior in her courtroom.

In January, she requested a medical disability retirement. Cochran said Thomas, 40, had filed for reelection to protect her standing in the disability request.

“Despite the legal ambiguity (surrounding that request) she determined she cannot run again,” Cochran said. He said a determination on Thomas’ application for disability could come within 30 days.

Thomas has been under doctors’ care for more than a year because of what Cochran has described as “extreme anguish, trauma and pressure” in her professional and personal life.

Since being forced off the bench in November after reports of unusual behavior that included stopping court proceedings to fix a fingernail and being found lying in a fetal position on the floor of her chambers, Thomas has been in and out of hospitals for care, Cochran said.

Thomas is now in a hospital, Cochran said, but he would not discuss the nature of her illness or her treatment.

Thomas has been a Municipal judge since 1980. In 1986, she was ousted by her fellow jurists from the post of presiding judge of the court after complaints that she was frequently absent, played favorites in making assignments and was using her office as a springboard for a Superior Court election campaign. She lost a bid for a Superior Court position later that year.

Three candidates have filed to run for Thomas’ Municipal Court seat. They are Deputy Dist. Atty. Andy Diamond, Municipal Court Commissioner Stephen Leventhal and attorney Merle Horwitz.