Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

 

Page 1

 

Candidates Bid for Multiple Seats as Judicial Filing Comes to an End

 

By KENNETH OFGANG, Staff Writer

 

Uncertainty was the order of the day yesterday as the declaration-of-intent period for candidates for Los Angeles Superior Court judge came to an end yesterday.

Several deputy district attorneys who had hoped to win unopposed election to the court found themselves with potential opposition, as four candidates—three of whom had previously filed in other separate races, filed for multiple seats. Those candidates have until the end of the nominating period, March 7, to decide which seat they will actually run in.

Deputy District Attorney Amy Carter, who had no opposition until yesterday for the seat now held by Judge Michael Solner, filed in three more seats, but said she was “99.9 percent sure” she would stay in her current race. Pamala Matsumoto, a Glendale attorney, also filed for the Solner seat.

Deputy District Attorney Helen Kim, who had not previously filed, submitted the paperwork for eight seats.

Carol Rose, a veteran of 35 years in the District Attorney’s Office who had taken out papers to run for several seats on Friday, filed for only one, while Songhai Miguda-Armsted, a deputy city attorney who took out papers for 13 different seats last week, settled on a single race. She will oppose Deputy District Attorney Teresa Pineda-Magno, who was previously unopposed.

B. Otis Felder, a Beverly Hills admiralty lawyer, filed for one seat, as did Steven Klaif, an Encino attorney and “as-needed” Superior Court referee. Former Referee Arnold Mednick, who previously declared for the seat that Klaif is seeking, filed a second declaration, as did previously declared candidate Andrew Stein, a criminal defense attorney.

Marc Gibbons, a Cerritos defense attorney who had previously taken out papers to run in two races, settled on one, and will run against Deputy District Attorney Donna Hollingsworth Armstrong. The final list of candidates, which appeared to be complete but which the registrar’s office said was unofficial, is:

Office No. 22, Carter and Matsumoto, for the seat of Judge Michael Solner, who is retiring this month.

Office No. 48, Carter, former state Senate and Assembly Majority Leader Charles Calderon, Deputy District Attorney Efrain Aceves, Stein, Rose, and Kim, for the seat now held by Judge Ronald Sohigian.

Office No. 54, Deputy District Attorney Shannon L. Knight and Superior Court Commissioner Debra L. Losnick, for the seat now held by Judge Lance Ito.

Office No. 61, Deputy District Attorney Dayan Mathai, Superior Court Commissioner Jacqueline Lewis, Kim, and Felder, for the seat now held by Judge Michael Nash.

Office No. 72, Deputy District Attorney Chris J. Frisco, Kim, and Carter for the seat now held by Judge Joseph DiLoreto.

Office No. 76, Deputy District Attorney Alison Matsumoto Estrada and Kim, for the seat now held by Judge Harvey Giss.

Office No. 82, Deputy District Attorney Ann H. Park, Carter, and Kim for the seat now held by Judge Arthur M. Lew.

Office No. 87, Deputy District Attorney Steven P. Schreiner, criminal defense attorney Andrew M. Stein, and Los Angeles Assistant City Attorney Tom Griego, for the seat now held by Judge Rex Heeseman.

Office No. 90, Deputy District Attorney Serena Murillo and Kim, for the seat now held by Judge Daniel Lopez.

Office No. 97, Deputy District Attorney Teresa Pineda Magno, Kim, and Miguda-Armsted, for the seat now held by Judge David Milton, who is retiring this month. 

Office No. 107, Superior Court Commissioner Emma Castro, Deputy District Attorney Joan Chrostek, and Kim for the seat now held by Judge Bob S. Bowers Jr.

Office No. 113, Deputy District Attorney Stacy L. Okun-Wiese, Mednick, and Klaif for the seat now held by Judge R. Bruce Minto, who is retiring next month. 

Office No. 117, Judge James Pierce and Deputy District Attorney Carol Najera.

Office No. 138, Deputy District Attorney Donna Hollingsworth Armstrong and Gibbons, for the seat now held by Judge Carlos Uranga.

Office No. 157, Deputy District Attorney Andrew Cooper and Mednick, for the seat now held by Judge Jessica Perrin Silvers, who is retiring this month.

 

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