Judge Will Decide on Endorsement of Sheriff

A judge will consider Monday whether to overturn the endorsement of Sheriff Michael S. Carona by the Orange County Republican central committee.

Tim Whitacre, a committee member backing Carona rival William Hunt for the June 6 election, sued the committee over the April endorsement, saying it violated party bylaws because candidates must be present for an endorsement vote and Carona wasn't.

Superior Court Judge John Watson will hear the suit.

William R. Mitchell, an attorney for the committee, said the court shouldn't intervene in decisions by a private organization.