Wednesday, April 27, 2016
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LACBA Committee Rejects Berger’s Appeal
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Deputy District Attorney David Berger has lost his appeal of his “Not Qualified” Rating from the Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee of the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
Berger said the committee stood by its initial rating, based on the recommendation of a subcommittee that interviewed all of the candidates.
The veteran prosecutor, who has been endorsed by the MetNews, declined to comment further on the process. Committee members were reportedly upset at things Berger has written in his sideline as a political blogger.
He is seeking the seat of Judge Elden Fox. Other candidates in the race are state Deputy Attorney General Kim Nguyen and Deputy District Attorney Fred Mesropi, both rated “Well Qualified,” Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Onica Valle Cole, rated “Qualified,” and sole practitioner Naser Khoury.
Khoury said last week that he had not received the letter containing his tentative rating, and subsequently did not return a phone call seeking an update.
While Berger is the only candidate to acknowledge a “Not Qualified” rating, it is believed that Stepan Baghdassarian, who is challenging Judge James Kaddo and did not respond to a request for comment, received that rating as a result of not participating in the committee’s process.
Others who have not responded to requests to comment on their ratings are Jonathan Malek, one of four candidates for the seat the Judge Michelle Rosenblatt is leaving; Michael P. Ribons and Alicia Molina, seeking the seat being vacated by Judge Alan Rosenfield; Judge Ray Santana, as well as his opponent, Eric Ibisi; and Deputy Public Defender Tami L. Warren, challenging Judge Kathryn Solorzano.
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