Legal eagles take a break from justice

By NINA LARAMORE and MARY JO WINTER / Towns Correspondents

They play honky-tonk music and, like other bands, have gigs, groupies and a song that’s number 6 on the local music country music charts.

The Sonoma County legal eagles behind the band Court ‘n’ Disaster describe this sideline as an antidote to the serious work of pursuing justice — and a whole lot of fun.

They perform at charitable events including the recent “Rock n Roll Detention,” the bar association picnic, 4-H events, to raise money for the medical needs of a young boy and take the occasional paid gig. Any fees received are evenly spit among the band members.

“It is definitely one of the most fun things I’ve ever done in my life,” says Family Law Clerk Joe Pachorek, who plays electric and acoustic guitar. “It’s like being part of a really fun, cool club, and the community aid aspect is fun, too.”

It all started with Sonoma County Superior Judge Jim Bertoli, who describes himself as “bottle-fed on Hank Williams” and his grandfathers as self-taught musicians.

He organized the judges who perform a musical skit each year for the annual Legal Aid “Lawyers with Heart” fundraiser and said, “I had a hard time getting volunteers.”

Bertoli was taking guitar lessons with Buzzy Martin in 2010, and recruited the Sebastopol musician to rework two songs to perform at the show. Martin turned Lefty Frizzell’s “Always Late (with Your Kisses)” into “Always Late with your Pleadings,” and “Man of Constant Sorrow” into “Judge of Constant Sorrow.”

“Judge Jimmy and the Jailhouse Four” was born that night. Since then, whenever Bertoli discovers new talent, he asks them to join, changing the band’s name accordingly.

Pachorek covered for a guitar player and “apparently I wowed them,” he said. But when guitarist and back-up vocalist Bradford J. DeMeo joined Bertoli on the bench, the name had to change.

The name Court ‘n’ Disaster is broad enough to cover the two judges, two lawyers, court clerks, the wife of an attorney, a banker and anyone else who might be asked to join.

The music may be the only thing that hasn’t changed with time.

“It is the older, more classic country of Johnny Cash, Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, George Jones and Patsy Cline,” says Bertoli, the band’s lead vocalist. “Even our newer artists are the more traditional Marty Stuart and Dwight Yoakam.”

Cloverdale attorney Jim DeMartini, the group’s bass player and back-up vocalist, describes them as “just your standard courthouse band” and says he is not sure where his musical talent comes from.

“(Dad) played piano, but only the black keys,” he quips. “He loved playing tunes from the ‘40s and ‘50s, but he only played the first verse.”

Like others in the band, DeMartini is busy enough with other activities that he has little time for band practice.

He serves Cloverdale on the Rotary Club, Health Care District, chamber, Citrus Fair Parade Association and Community Outreach Committee. He also is chairman of the Sonoma County Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, and serves on the Advisory Boards of both the Redwood Empire Food Bank and the Healdsburg Jazz Festival.

“Practicing is cheating. That’s our motto,” Bertoli says. “We’re all pretty busy so we cram before performances.”

He is active in the Men’s Senior Baseball League, a bowling league and the national Inn of Court organization.

Danielle Noble, vocalist and the band’s mom/manager, is the full-time mother of two and works in her husband’s law office. Vocalist Patricia Rios is a self-employed business owner. Other members are banker Kevin Borges on drums and attorneys Mark Peters (electric/steel guitar) and Larry Moskowitz (piano).

On the plus side, their busy lives translate to high name recognition. Court ‘n’ Disaster has real world groupies as well as Facebook fans.

“Most of these guys are really well known in the county,” Noble says. ”People turn up to hear them play.”

Bertoli says the band is a rare opportunity to connect with peers like teammates. “With a team you are focused on winning the game,” he says.

“We are focused on making some good music and having some fun. People say, ‘You really look like you’re having fun with it,’ and we are. It’s a great group of people to hang out with.”

“We giggle and laugh,” Noble says. “Lots of bands have issues, tensions and situations, but this band is like going to the playground with your friends.”

Court ‘n’ Disaster’s next confirmed appearance is July 4 at Santa Rosa’s “Red, White and Boom” celebration. To learn more, visit Reverbnation.com/CourtnDisaster and Facebook.com/Pages/Court-n-Disaster.

 

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