Most Superior Court judges are appointed by the governor when their incumbents retire or leave judicial office. But voters are asked to intervene every two years for various reasons, such as when judicial positions are opened in the few months before an election or when a challenger tries to unseat a sitting judge.
There are 10 Los Angeles County Superior Court positions on the ballot this year, of which eight are vacant seats. The Times previously offered its recommendations in the two challenges to the sitting judges. For vacant positions we recommend:
Office No. 39: Steve Napolitano
Of the four people vying for this position, the best is Manhattan Beach Councilman Steve Napolitano, an attorney who serves as an administrative law judge for a variety of government agencies and who also represents inmates in their release hearings. conditional. Previously, Napolitano served as chief deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. His extensive experience would make him an asset to the Superior Court.
The district deputy is also running. Lawyer. Jacob Lee, Deputy Public Defender George A. Turner Jr. and private practitioner Ronda Dixon. Lee and Turner could one day, with more experience, be ready for the bench.
Office No. 48: Ericka J. Wiley
Each candidate in this three-person race would make a credible Superior Court judge, but Deputy Public Defender Ericka J. Wiley stands out. Early in her legal career, Wiley represented tenants facing eviction and also counseled teen mothers involved in the juvenile justice system. She watched what she said were hasty decisions by lawyers and judges that had a huge impact on the lives of young people, and it inspired her to become a criminal defense attorney. She has spent the last 24 years in the Los Angeles County Public Defender's Office.
She has handled capital murder and other special circumstances cases, and served as a supervisor at the Bellflower courthouse. Her demeanor is calm but inspires respect and makes her suitable for the position.
She is running against the district deputy. Lawyer. Renee Rose and private attorney Malik C. Burroughs.
Office No. 93: Víctor Ávila
Voters will be asked to mark their ballots for this position, even if they only have one choice. Fortunately, the district deputy. Lawyer. Víctor Ávila is a highly respected prosecutor and will probably be a good judge.
Office No. 97: Sharon Ransom
When the district deputy. Lawyer. Sharon Ransom ran for judge two years ago, The Times lamented that it could endorse only one candidate in her race. Ransom was almost as impressive as a competitor she had the advantage in experience. This time she is without a doubt the best in the field of three of hers.
Ransom worked for years as a dispatcher for the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and was in her late 40s before becoming an attorney. This experience seems to have provided valuable perspective and maturity. Judges and defense attorneys note her unflappable manner in seeking resolution of cases in the district attorney's mental health unit, and previously in prosecuting elder abuse and child abuse.
Also running are criminal defense attorney La Shea Henderson and deputy district attorney. Lawyer. Sam Abourched.
Office No. 115: Christmas Brookens
This race pits two accomplished Los Angeles County deputy district attorneys against each other. Probably either would be a good judge, both have compelling life stories and are well regarded for their intelligence, integrity and work ethic. But Christmas Brookens has an advantage over her colleague Keith Koyano because of perspective gained through diverse experiences: in the US Navy, while stationed in Spain as an aviation electronics technician during the first Gulf War, and during his training at the Defense Language Institute in Mandarin. (He says he also speaks Korean, Japanese, Russian and Spanish.)
But she is particularly impressive when discussing the role of victims in criminal cases, displaying a depth of thought and analysis that would likely make her stand out in court. The second-place candidate should consider seeking an appointment from the governor. The High Court could end up winning twice.
Office No. 130: Leslie Gutiérrez
This is another race with two very different candidates, both of whom would be good judges. Private attorney Christopher M. Darden became a household name nearly 30 years ago as a co-prosecutor in the OJ Simpson murder trial. He remained a television personality in the decades after the trial, with appearances as an expert legal commentator on network and cable news shows, and in cameos as himself on “Muppets Tonight” and other shows.
However, voters have an even better option: the Los Angeles County district representative. Lawyer. Leslie Gutierrez. She went to law school with the intention of becoming a criminal defense attorney, but she concluded that fair prosecutors were the most powerful agents of justice.
Early in her career, she was assigned as a filing deputy, which gave her the power to reject cases that police brought to the district attorney, initiate a prosecution or return the matter for more evidence. At first her job disappointed her, because she wanted to try cases. But her assignment ultimately gave him enormous insight into the dynamics of successful prosecutions and the shortcomings of the cases police brought to him. When she finally became a felony prosecutor, she was prepared to handle the most complex and sensitive cases. Two years ago, The Times was impressed with her, but she found her still too inexperienced to take the job. That is no longer the case. She would be a trained and knowledgeable judge.
Also running is Osman M. Taher, a sole practitioner and temporary judge who is not ready to be a full-time judge.
Office #135: Steven Yee Mac
The best of the three candidates in this race is the Deputy Dist. Attorney. Steven Yee Mac, who became a prosecutor after serving in the US Army, first as an intelligence officer and then studying law as a member of the Judge Advocate General Corps, defending soldiers accused of wrongdoing conduct and serving as legal advisor to the Army. Mac has earned praise for his work as a trial attorney.
Georgia Huerta, also a deputy prosecutor, and sole practitioner Mohammad Ali Fakhreddine are also running.
Office No. 137: Tracey M. Blount
Of the four candidates for this Superior Court position, the most impressive is Deputy County Attorney Tracey M. Blount. She represents the county in Dependency Court, where judges must decide whether to remove children from their homes due to abuse or neglect, and then work with all parties involved to eventually reunify families. She previously worked as an appellate attorney in the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office.
His opponents include Luz E. Herrera, a law professor in Texas but with strong ties to Los Angeles, and Michael Berg, a solo practitioner whose clients include crime victims. Also, Diana Ruth James, who offers a remarkable life story that includes becoming a mother at age 16 and being the first member of her family to graduate from high school. Her solo practice includes family law and criminal defense cases, including representing defendants in the Avalon Courthouse in Catalina.
