The Times Recorder from Zanesville, Ohio • 17

Times Recorder Sunday, March 17, 1996 Sis Bowman OUTTAKES dhag tike bMb Alice Robie Resnick was a rarity when she began her law career. She was a woman. She didn't let it stop her. Now she's a state Supreme Court Justice. going to ask for the death penalty? "It was taken to the U.S.

Supreme Court in 1970. Chief Justice (Warren) Burger was on the court, Harry Blackmun, (William) Douglas, Thur-good Marshall it was a very histori- cal event for my husband and I. We were not married when we tried the case, not even planning on it. THIS woman," she said. "So when I started I was THE woman in the office I gradually got to try some felony cases, but I was given the ones that were absolutely impossible to win.

I did win the first one, but tost the next sevea I nearly cried -and you can imagine what it did to my confidence." One elderly judge final- ly went to the prosecutor on her behalf and suggested he start giving her "regular cases. (I ing she played a key role herself in breaking barriers in the state of Oliio, first as a female prosecuting attorney and then as an elected official. Only 2 percent of all Ohio attorneys were women when Resnick joined the ranks. When she was elected municipal court judge, she was one of three female judges in the state. When she was elected to Ohio's Supreme Court only three other women had ever been elected to state-wide office.

As a judge who sees prejudices on both sides of the male-female fence, she advocates two rente dies. Firstly, women who have made strides in their careers, whether the legal profession or some other, should not forget there are others behind them who could often use a hand. "Too many women who succeed think, 1 made it so everyone else But sometimes they cant. Thafs why I made a committment to help other women," Resnick said. "Equality is elusive for a great majority of womea" Secondly, she advocates "sensitizing" men to the prejudices women face.

She has played a prominent role in establishing a division of the Ohio Bar Assoria- -tion that deals primarily with problems exclusive to female attorneys. One of the best methods to highlight the prejudices, so that men actually get die point, is role -playing. Resnick said the Association has started doing this at seminars for attorneys and judges. "The first one for judges is one I will never forget you could feel the tension in the room. We brought humor into it and the role-playing exaggerates the situation a bit.

It causes men to think about it "I have confidence that after five years of that type of exposure, there'll be more sensitivity in the courtroom. Hopefully, well eliminate bias," Resnick said. A sure sign would be the election of a female president or vice president. Resnick sid just getting the opportunity to run is a problem, but a far worse obstacle is getting financial backing for such 'an expensive undertaking. People with money are more likely to put it in the campaign pockets of a man, she said.

So what's Iter best guess on how king it will be before we address a Ms. President? "I can't answer that question but I wouldnt imagine it would be before 25 years. Let's say between 10 to 25 years not in the near future," she said. By PEGGY MATTHEWS Times Recorder ZANESVILLE No one but a diehard in the chauvinist male camp could fail to appreciate the advances women have made in this country in my lifetime. But what's the view like from somewhere near the top in state politics and the legal profession? Cloudy and often stormy, with another cold front threatening periodically just about describes it Ask Justice Alice Robie Resnick, who at 56 came of age only a few short years before me.

"I didn't know there was so much discrimination going on until I got on the Ohio Supreme Court," she said. "In my area of the state, women were doing real well but now I have so many others telling me the problems they face and asking me for advice back in the 1800s, women were fighting for gender neutral statutes and to be admitted to the bar. They still struggle. Truly, there is nothing new under the sun." On the positive side, she's seeing plenty of bright qualified women arguing cases before the Supreme Court, she said. "A lot of wonderful women are coming through they think on their feet, are wen prepared if exciting.

They are just as competent, if not more so, than their male counterparts," she said. But there are barriers. One judge she cites deliberately mocked a female attorney trying an important civil case before him. Mow much does that factor into the minds of the jurors? She lost the case. Was that a just ded-sion or the result of unethical and near criminal judicial behavior? It's hard to factor out, but Resnick is of the opinion the judge "discriminated against her throughout (the proceedings)" and says unequivocabfy, There is bias present in the profession." She has seen it first hand.

"I have been a lawyer since 1964. As you can well imagine, fVe had a lot of difficulties," she said, explaining she was one of four women in her law school graduating class. "I wanted to be a trial lawyer and, of course, that just didn't happen (then)," she added. But it did. The prosecuting attorney who eventually hired her left her sitting in the lobby for an hour and a half prior to an interview.

During that time, all his male assistant prosecutors wandered into the lobby to get a better look. "He just kept me waiting he was in there and I knew he was in there and all his assistants came by one at a time to check me out to decide what they think of Guest writer is clearin' up little mysteries Sis Boumani guest columnist tody is Cony McCarthy. Sure an' it's a pleasure to be Ulkin' with you today on this grand St Paddy's Day. Although she doesn't have a drop of Irish blood in her veins, the darlin' lady who usually uses this spot, granted me this special wish. I intend to use this space to set the record straight about some common misconceptions surrounding this glorious holiday.

And I especially want to put to rest some vicious rumours regarding me and my kind. By the way, I am a leprechaun and a very handsome one at that, if I do say so meself. But 111 get back to dispellin' the malicious gossip fVe heard about the wee people a little later. First I want to give you a bit o' information about the goodly Saint himself. I was a personal friend of his, you know.

I'll let you in on a little secret, if you promise me you, won't tell a livin'soul. St Patrick wasn't Irish. I Ic was bom in Scotland or in Roman Britain, I cant rightly recollect at this moment After all, that was in the year of our Lord 373 and me memory isn't what it used to be. The great man didn't come to the Emerald Isle until he was about 60 years of age. What a holy and wonderful man he was and I never saw him hurt so much as a fly.

That's why I'm thinkin' that all that drivin' the snakes into the sea business was a bunch of blarney. Heaven knows if people will lie about us wee folk, they would surely tell fibs about the holy Saint himself. Now the part about his usin' a shamrock to explain the Trinity is I saw that wi' me own wee eyes. The shamrock was Just a common old weed, until the great man himself elevated it to its present celebrity. And, although I hate like the divil to be the one to tell you, potatoes aren't Irish.

Of course, we call em spuds over in Ireland. Sir Walter Raleigh brought them back from your country to us so I guess that's another fallacy down the drain' Now, to get down to brass tacks, I want to tell you about us leprechauns. Tis true that we are only about two feet tall and appear to be a little on the elderly side. And I cannot deny that each of us is a brilliant and talented shoemaker in his own right, else he would not have earned enough to collect a pot of gold. That part of the fable is absolutely correct But who can blame us for keeping our gold hidden in this day and age, what with all the crime and such.

I'm here to tell you that those who slander the little people by claiming we are unfriendly, mean, little men are guilty of tellin' the most grievous of falsehoods. Why all the leprechauns I know are the sweetest, most darlin' wee fellas youU ever meet, present company included, if I do say so meself We only get a little surly when some greedy conniver wants to take our money for his own. Can you blame us for not bein' exactly hospitable to the likes of a thief. So dont let anyone tell you that leprechauns are disagreeable little characters. We may not be as cute as Ernie the Keebler Elf.

but we're a far cry from the nasty gnomes of our reputation. IThanks be to you for lettin' me get that off me chest I hope you nave a happy and safe St Patrick's Day and rn begone with this May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow and may trouble avoid you wherever you go- Sis Bowman trill return next Keck. Sixth District Court of Appeals Judge, 1982 1986; elected1 Ohio Supreme Court justice, 1988. Her Zanesville appearance Where: John Mclntire Library, Fifth and Shin-nick streets, downtown Zanesville. When: 7 p.m.

Tuesday. Why: Part of Women's History Month celebration. 'r What History of law, how it affects women's lives and how it has changed. Justice Alice Robie Resnick Bom: Aug. 21, 1939, Erie, Pa.

Home: Toledo Interests: Reading, gardening and swimming. Education: Ph.B in History, Siena Heights College, Adrian, 1961 (minors in philosophy. English and biology); Juris Doctor, sity of Detroit College of Law, 1964. Experience: Assistant prosecutor, Lucas County, 1964-1975; elected Toledo Municipal Court Judge, 1975 1981; elected Ohio But we married in March 1970 and argued the case in November 1970, before the Supreme Court," she said. Before she k-ft that prosecutor's office, she had the satisfaction of having proved her mettle.

There was a point at which I had more death penalty convictions than any other Assistant," she said. One of the guys she won over is today a friend. I le believed back then and told her so as they were all sitting around a table at a Toledo deli that women should not be lawyers. "I always kid him about it Sometimes, I think back on things that were said they dont say them now, it absolutely is not permitted," she said. Resnick is a woman who's had a great vantage point from which to view modern changes.

But equally as important and interest jail with rival gang members. Within 40 minutes FJ Ozzy was dead Demonio has head injuries from a fight with another gang member over i girl I ie may not recover com-1 pletely. Peer pressure and a need to belong has swelled gang ranks. Gizmo, 17, and Polio, 15, joined Mara Salvatrucha last year. Their father is in Los Angeles.

Their mother has come back, but plans on going north again to make money to send to diem. well and it's fairly accurate. Resnick, who was Alice Robie at the time, tried the case with another assistant prosecutor, Melvin Resnick. The trial was about a crime of passion, a domestic dispute in which the husband killed the wife: Seldom do those convictions lead to the electric chair, she said, but at the end of the trial Melvin now judge of the Ohio Sixth District Court of Appeals in Toledo turned to Alice and asked, "What are you going to do next?" To which his future bride sweetly replied, "I told him I was As a young teen-ager, the United States deported him to an FJ Salvador he hardly knew. He stayed with the gang, and during a brief stint in jail recently admitted Tm a disaster? I le says he worries about his future but wonders he can change after so many years in crime.

"I (messed) up with all these tattoos," he said referring to the copious hallmarks of a Sarvadoran gang member. "Nobody gives you a job." Not so long ago he helped bury "FJ Ozzy," a gang leader who was put in When he did, Resnick's conviction rate increased, she said. And then there was the desire she had to try a death penalty case. "I told the prosecutor rd like to assist on one and he told me, "Well, Alice, I'll just go out and commit one for she said. ie didn't and she didn't do him in, either.

Eventually, she did try her first capital punishment case and held her own, taking one all the way to the US. Supreme Court and winning. And that's how she met her husband Not exactly, but it reads out of rage on their victims. Now not only do they rob, they murder to avoid charges and possible capture." Gang graffiti is thick on peeling adobe walls. At 22, Francisco Valladares, known as "Demonic" (Demon), is old for a member of a tnara," as the gangs are called He says he was 5 when his parents took him to Los Angeles, where he joined the Mara Sahatrucha at 12 and began stealing cars.

Since then he has spent as much time in jail as out Burgeoning street gangs replace in El Salvador SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AT) Life is tough and often short for the street gangs of this Central American capital Virtually unknown before the end of the civil war four years ago, gangs have an estimated 10,000 They are centered in the poorer suburbs of the capital, where members rob for a living, buy hand grenades for a dollar or two and lull rivals for any reason. Or for none. "Gangs and airninals are increasingly bloody and dangerous," says prosecutor Jorge Figeac They act The Associated Press Francisco Valladares Is In prison for a drunken driving Incident In which to plowed into a food stand..