RIVERSIDE, CA --- Deputy District Attorney John Molloy has filed his statement of intent to run for Riverside County Judge.  Molloy is seeking election to Riverside County's 18th Judicial Seat that has been vacant since the State of California removed Robert Spitzer as a judge because of his misconduct while in office.
 
 "The people of Riverside County must have trust in the integrity of our court system," Molloy said.   "The system must be fair and impartial for all who have matters before the court.  The guilty should be punished and the innocent set free.  All rulings must be based on the law and the facts, not political ideology and personal preferences."
 
Last October the State of California Commission on Judicial Performance removed and disqualified Robert Spitzer as a judge.  The Commission removed Spitzer for "a pattern of misconduct consisting of delays, indecision, signing of false salary affidavits," and improper communication with parties who had cases before him in the Court.
 
Although Spitzer was removed and disqualified from being a judge, Molloy will likely face the disgraced judge in the June 3rd Election.  Spitzer has filed his intent to seek election to his old judicial seat even though his qualifications for office are in question.
 
John Molloy, whose qualifications have already been verified by the Registrar of Voters, has prosecuted over 60 jury trials and is currently a member of the District Attorney's Homicide Team.  Earlier this month Molloy won the first-degree murder conviction of gang leader John Jason Montalvo who had shot and killed a homeless man in Rutland Park in 1994.
 
Molloy joined the Riverside County District Attorney's Office in 1997 after earning his law degree from Pepperdine University School of Law.  Molloy also holds a Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry from California State University, Long Beach.
 
Before becoming a prosecutor, Molloy worked as a law clerk at the Ventura County District Attorney's Office.  He also served as an intern in Washington, D.C. with the United States Department of Justice in the Environmental Crimes Section.