| THE MAN BEHIND THE ROBE Steady Girolami seen as ideal to lead the way through tumult Judge Aldo "Al" Girolami is methodical, effiecient and perhaps facing the last trial of his career. "When he's done with the Peterson case, he'll be ready for retirement," said former Judge Augustus Accurso, who swore in Girolami to the Stanislaus County Municipal Court in 1984. "This one's going to make an old man of him," Accurso said, chuckling. "It'd make an old man of anybody." The double-murder case against Scott Peterson is certainly the biggest case Girolami has presided over in his 19 years on the bench, first in Municipal Court and then in Superior Court. Several people who are familiar with the judge said it likely will be his last before retiring. Girolami, 64, declined to be interviewed. But acquaintances said his meticulous approach and calm demeanor make him ideally suited to handle a case marked by public outcry, swarming media, a celebrity defense attorney and a police investigation that ranged from hypnosis to satellite tracking devices. "This is the kind of case where you get challenges to everything," Accurso said. "If I was a judge, I would have headed the other way," Modesto defense attorney Gene Trimble said.Trimble and Girolami dueled in court during Trimble's 19 years in the public defender's office and Girolami's 13 as a prosecutor. "That case is nothing but problems," Trimble said. "You have to really, really, really research everything. Al's always done that, though." And Girolami expects much of the same from attorneys who appear before him, demanding they be on time and prepared, observers said. "He's famous for tacking on fines to attorneys who appear late in his courtroom," defense attorney Robert Chase said. Girolami also has a reputation for frugality that rankles some defense attorneys, who rely on court money to conduct investigations and retain expert witnesses for indigent defendants. Girolami has said moving Peterson's trial to another county would cause added expense for the public and is "not a desirable option." Defense attorney Mark Geragos has indicated he would seek to move the trial. But perhaps Girolami's overriding quality is the widespread belief he is largely fair. "A lot of judges say you shouldn't believe a cop over a citizen," Deputy Public Defender Greg Spiering said. "I think he really believes that, where a lot of judges just say it." Girolami is a quiet man who loves his hunting dog, woodworking and "fiddling around the house," acquaintances said. He was born in Santa Cruz in 1939, the year his mother emigrated from Lucca, Italy. His father had moved to America 12 years earlier. He married Vera Ferrara in 1961, and the couple have two daughters. After serving two years in an Army artillery unit, where he earned the rank of first lieutenant, Girolami took a job in 1964 as an insurance claims adjuster. He earned his law degree in 1970 from the University of Santa Clara. Girolami met Accurso at an anniversary party for Accurso's parents in 1971. Accurso was leaving the Stanislaus County district attorney's office and suggested that Girolami apply to take his place. Girolami got the job. He advanced steadily to become District Attorney Donald Stahl's "right-hand man" before Gov. Deukmejian appointed him to the bench in 1984. MORE GIROLAMI INFO HOME INDEX LACI SCOTT ALIBI-WITNESS LIST EVIDENCE-NEWS DEFENSE TEAM PROSECUTION TEAM |
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May Justice Prevail |
| LACI & CONNER May Justice Prevail |