Governor Appoints Prosecutor as Judge

Gov. Pete Wilson named a Valley resident as a Municipal Court judge on Thursday.

After serving as a Los Angeles County prosecutor since 1981, Susan M. Speer, 45, of Woodland Hills will begin her new position next week. She has served as head deputy of the Van Nuys district attorney’s office since November.

“The governor feels she has the legal expertise and energy to serve on the bench,” said Matt Taggart, a spokesman for Wilson. “Her experience in the private and public sectors make her well-qualified for this position.”

Speer said she hopes to use her new position as a platform to make people more responsible for their actions.

“I’d like to instill a greater sense of accountability and call on people’s character rather than accepting any old excuse,” she said.

Speer replaces Judge Mark Mooney, who was elevated to the Superior Court.

The Municipal Court presiding judge will choose the courthouse where Speer will work. She will earn slightly more than $98,000 a year, Taggart said.