Controversial San Diego Judge Reassigned

A San Diego judge has been reassigned to hear mundane traffic cases in Kearny Mesa because prosecutors boycotted his downtown courtroom over of his legal approaches, it was reported Saturday.

U-T San Diego reported that no official reason was given for the unusual transfer for Judge Gary Kreep, 63.

Kreep was a vocal part of the movement that sought proof of President Barack Obama's citizenship, and was thene elected to Superior Court.

He was reassigned on Sept. 9 after several Superior Court rulings that favored defendants' constitutional rights, such as declining to take away defendants' rights against search and seizure, U-T San Diego reported.

It is unclear how long Kreep will be presiding over traffic hearings. A spokesman for Presiding Judge Robert Trentacosta told U-T San Diego that the court doesn't comment on judicial assignments, and City Attorney Jan Goldsmith declined comment to the paper.

According to the newspaper, Kreep was reassigned shortly after prosecutors used the legal tactic of repeatedly requesting reassignment to keep cases from his courtroom.

Lawyers from the Public Defender's office as well as private lawyers said they had no problem with Kreep, U-T San Diego reported.

The paper reported that Kreep would often release defendants without bail on minor charges if they had a history of showing up at court appearances, and would dismiss cases before the full term of a deferred sentence.

-- City News Service