Family-law attorney Heckman throws hat in for Sutter judgeship

Cases in family law — child custody, protective services, endangerment — can be the most wrenching in legal circles.

But Sarah Heckman, current managing attorney for the Sutter County Superior Court Family Law Center, said her experiences there would help her be a good judge.

"Certainly, they are very, very difficult cases," said Heckman, 58, of Meridian. "Really, in terms of family law, it's looking at the best interests of the children."

As one of eight candidates for judge in Department 2 in Sutter County Superior Court, Heckman said, she felt she had to run because open judicial seats don't come up often. In this case, H. Ted Hansen's retirement announcement set off a flood of interest.

Heckman said she's wanted to eventually be a judge since she was in law school, and being an attorney on family law cases for much of her career has given her insight into how a judge should treat those with a matter before the court.

"I would expect I would be quite calm and competent and patient, especially with those people who are representing themselves because I've been dealing with them," she said, "and it just reminds us these are families and children."

Longtime family friend Mike Chesini of Meridian said he runs short of adjectives to describe how well he thinks Heckman would do as a judge.

"She'd be wonderful," he said. "She just has a great temperament and a nice disposition."

But with the respect for the parties involved in mind, Heckman said, she'd also be able to apply the case's circumstances to make rulings.

Heckman, who moved to the area 34 years ago, was the executive director for the inaugural California Prune Festival in 1987 and also community relations director of Fremont-Rideout Health Group.

After attending law school, she was a prosecutor on primarily child support cases for the Sutter County District Attorney's Office, and also worked in private practice on personal injury cases, civil suits, wills and trusts and corporate matters.

She became the Family Law Center's managing attorney in 2002, and began supervising the Family Law Pro Persona Status Calendar six years ago.

In the long run, her goal is to get back to family law, but as a judge — a specialty that California often runs short on, she said.

"I'm prepared to work very seriously, and take this position very seriously," she said.

The position, for which the salary is set by the state, pays $163,274.58 a year.

CONTACT Ben van der Meer at bvandermeer@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4786. Find him on Facebook at /ADbvandermeer or on Twitter at @ADbvandermeer.