By Greg Mitchell

W n some ways, Consuelo Callahan fits in well on Third District. She's a tough, conservative former prosecutor -- she already has dissented from one ruling which reversed a criminal conviction, a ruling conservative PJ Robert Puglia signed onto.

In other ways, though, Callahan stands apart. She is the only female member of the Third District, and one of the few who comes from outside Sacramento. In fact, she's the first San Joaquin County jurist to get elevated to the Third District in some 70 years, according to a Stockton businessman.

Appointed two years ago, Callahan has issued 10 opinions and so has not yet developed a lengthy track record as an appellate justice.

Her nomination received broad support throughout the San Joaquin legal community; she was described by attorneys and judicial colleagues as hard-working, thorough and disciplined. Superior Court Judge Bob McNatt, who shared civil law-and-motion duties with Callahan, said he often turned to her for advice on "sticky issues." She was active in the effort to consolidate the county trial courts,

The Commission on Judicial Nominees Evaluation rated Callahan "well-qualified."

POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS: Callahan gave $500 to Pete Wilson's gubernatorial campaign in 1994. She contributed $250 each to Wilson and his opponent, Dianne Feinstein, in the 1990 campaign. In addition, Callahan gave Dan Lungren $250 in 1995, a year after he was elected AG. She also contributed $225 to Republican Assembly candidate Dean Andal in 1991, and $100 each to the state Senate campaigns of Ken Maddy and Bill Jones in 1992.