Age: 63
Profession and title: Judge of the Superior Court, State of California.
Community involvement: Presiding over National Adoption Day is always the highlight. The local high school mock trial competition is fun to coach and judge. The students are shockingly good. I’ll go out of my way to support local businesses, cafes, restaurants and markets. I’ll visit local schools on Law Day to explain the justice system with a hope of fostering civic engagement.
I coached Jack Frost football for many years. Teaching the kids the basics of the game was very enjoyable. Dealing with their parents’ unrealistic beliefs about the child’s abilities were not.
Immediate family: A wife and two daughters.
How would you describe yourself?
Farm boy with a law degree.
How long have you lived in Bakersfield?
35 years. The Kern County District Attorney’s Office recruited and hired me while I was still a law student in Sacramento in 1989. I moved here after taking the bar exam in July of 1990. I lived in an apartment near CSUB, where I met the future Mrs. Brownlee.
What is your proudest achievement of your career?
I learned trial work in front of some very tough, old-school judges in Kern County.
Many would be awfully hard on you for no apparent reason, sometimes just to see how you would respond. Eventually, I was more concerned about not upsetting the judge than presenting my case. When then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed me to the bench, I made a conscious effort to change the atmosphere in my court. I took a little from Judge Gary Engle in Shafter and Judge Lee Felice in Bakersfield, and gave it my own twist. The lawyers and jurors have responded in a positive fashion, and seem to enjoy their time in Department 6.
How do you find inspiration to do what you do?
I’m responsible for safeguarding both the rights of the accused and the interests of the public in the administration of criminal justice. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.
It’s important to keep in mind that each trial means the world to those involved. It’s important to treat the litigants with respect and dignity so they feel their time in court was fair and transparent. I give each case individual treatment and base my decisions on the particular facts of the case in front of me.
What advice do you offer to a younger generation?
When I was just a little guy, my dad would have me read aloud the headline story from The (Riverside) Press-Enterprise newspaper. It instilled in me a love of reading. I still read every morning before going to work. My advice to the younger generation would be to read everything you can. Find the time to read every single day. It is essential for academic success and personal growth, and greatly enhances comprehension skills.
Pick up a copy of the Steinbeck novella “Of Mice and Men” and give it a solid examination. Better yet, have a friend read it as well and then discuss it afterward. It’s a powerful story that will provoke thought and discussion.
What brings you joy?
Music. My mother loved music, and she always had it playing in the house. My sister married a musician who played in a famous rock ‘n’ roll band, so I was exposed to all types and genres. Something about the rhythm and syncopation, the melody, the harmony, it does good things to the brain. I’ve spent too much on audio equipment over the years, but the sound produced from the good stuff is terrific. My neighbors will probably confirm this.
When I go over jury instructions with the lawyers, we do so in chambers with music playing. Steely Dan’s “Aja” will be the first album they hear. It always gets us on the right track.
What is your favorite quote?
“Every action we take impacts the lives of others around us.” This is true in every criminal jury trial, and is certainly applicable in my life. Every day my decisions make a temporary friend and a permanent enemy. While I have come to accept this, I find that by focusing on calling balls and strikes regardless of who’s pitching makes people appreciate the effort I put in.
What else would you like to share about your life?
I was blessed to have been adopted at birth by a wonderful family. They were truly salt of the earth, good people. They encouraged me to go to medical school, but I disappointed them and went to law school. Decades later, my mother confessed that the best investment they ever made was in my legal education. Thanks, Mom and Dad!