By Greg Mitchell

William McGuiness had 14 years of experience as a prosecutor before taking the bench -- first in Alameda County, later as a high-ranking official in the Reagan Justice Department. But despite that background, defense attorneys were happy to try cases in front of him as a judge. "I thought he was just scrupulously fair," said veteran Deputy Public Defender Raymond Keller, who tried two serious felony cases before McGuiness. "He was one of the few trial judges tha both the prosecution and the defense were pleaed to try cases before," District Attorney Thomas Orloff told the Commission on Judicial Appointments.

Appointed a year ago, McGuiness hasn't built up a big track record as an appellate justice. Judging from his first four opinions -- and five other published during a 1996 stint as a temporary justice -- he will take the careful, methodical approach to opinion writing characteristic of Division Four.

The State Bar's Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation rated McGuiness "well-qualified."