Smiley to Preside Over Municipal Court

Judge John R. Smiley has been selected to preside over the Ventura County Municipal Court in 1994, court officials said Friday.

A municipal judge since 1986, Smiley has been assistant presiding judge the past two years. He replaces Judge Bruce A. Clark, who has been presiding judge for the same period.

“I’m not really the boss of the judges. They are all elected officials, and they are all high-quality people,” Smiley said.

As presiding judge, Smiley will oversee courtroom assignments for the 12-judge court and serve as the primary court spokesman.

Judge Barry B. Klopfer, 49, will replace Smiley as assistant presiding judge. Klopfer, who also has served as a county prosecutor, was appointed to the court in 1987.

Smiley, 46, received his bachelor’s degree from Princeton University in 1970 and his law degree from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles three years later.

He said he wants to help the court to become more accessible to the public and “be as user-friendly as possible.”

Smiley also said another key job for him will be helping with the consolidation of the county’s Municipal and Superior courts.

Smiley said the Municipal Court caseload is on the rise at a time when resources are being squeezed. But he credited the court staff for working hard and keeping up with the work.