From 6/15/03
San Jose Mercury News Editorial

“When Judge Dolores Carr arrived in family court two years ago, she listened to stories of broken trust, lost dreams, violent arguments, and money problems. She saw parents with drug problems, depression and no money for treatment. She saw children whose parents were too overwhelmed to tend to their needs.

“Carr is now supervising judge in family court. Thanks to her perseverance and a $2.5 million grant from First 5 Santa Clara County, her court will be able to pay for services, from counseling to drug treatment, that parents and children need to get through the crisis and on with their lives.

”At a time when social service programs for families are being slashed across the state, it's good to know that help will be available for folks in time of crisis. And it's good to know that judges like Dolores Carr are finding creative ways to provide that help.”

 

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A Superior Judge

"Judge Carr is respected for her solid judicial temperament and professionalism. She simply keeps working until all her cases are resolved fairly. She is also known for being thoughtful, thorough and decisive. The Presiding Judge appointed her to a host of key court committees. With all of her added responsibilities, she still was able to handle a personal caseload of 75-90 cases each week—giving close attention to each.

“In my experience, she has proven to be an energetic, innovative and gifted administrator who is always looking to improve the system and make it better serve the community. She supported grant-seeking activities that helped fund new community-based programs that helped families and children at a level unprecedented in any domestic relations court, anywhere. That's the kind of leadership we are going to get from her as District Attorney.”

Steve Baron
Director, Family Court Services (ret.)
Santa Clara County

 
   
 

Superior Court Judge, County of Santa Clara (May 2000 to present)

Judge Carr was elected in March 2000 to the Santa Clara County Superior Court bench. Initially she was assigned to a criminal calendar. She volunteered for assignment to the Family Division, a job known to be among the most grueling on the bench. She was appointed Supervising Judge of the Family Division the following year.

In 2005, Judge Carr was selected as Supervising Judge to develop the county’s first Unified Family Court. The goal of the court is to bring all of a family’s legal issues involving children before a single judge for resolution.

Summary of Service
• Assigned to Family Division 2001
• Supervising Judge, Family Division, 2002-2005
• Supervising Judge, Unified Family Court, 2005 to present
• Court Committees:
     Executive
     Budget/Finance
     Rules, Internal Policies, and Legislation
     Personnel
     Supervising Judges
     Family/Juvenile/Probate/Substance Abuse/Domestic Violence Issues Liaison
     Grants Coordination
     Proposition 63/Mental Health Services Act Implementation

Memberships/Boards
• Advisory Board, Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grants Program
• California Judges Association
• Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Council
• Santa Clara County Bar Association
• California Women Lawyers
• Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
• National Council of Family and Juvenile Court Judges

Awards
• The Henry B. Collada Memorial Award (2003)
• Santa Clara County Bar Association Women Lawyers award for outstanding service
   and achievements in law and community affairs (2004)
• LACY Honor, Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, given to “outstanding individual
   within our community who has contributed to legal representation of minors” (2005)
• FIRST 5 Family Court Services Initiative was selected by the Association of Family
  and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) to be included in their publication, “Exemplary
  Court Programs and Practices" (2005)