Tuesday, January 9, 2018
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Judge Donna F. Goldstein Won’t Seek Reelection
Hers Is Third Confirmed Open Seat; Judge Mark Nelson Pondering Retirement
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Donna Fields Goldstein, who is up for reelection this year, said yesterday she will not be running and Judge Mark G. Nelson of the same court, who is also in the last year of his six-year term, said he is presently undecided if he will seek to succeed himself.
With Goldstein’s declaration that she will not be a candidate, three open seats on the June 5 ballot have both been identified. Judges Roy Paul and Carol Henry “C.H.” Rehm Jr. have both slated retirements after Feb. 7, and Goldstein said:
“My final retirement date is still not set, but I expect it to be at the end of March.”
If any judge who us up for election does not file a declaration of intent to run between Jan. 29 and Feb. 7, there will be a five day extension for filing by anyone, other than the judge, who has been a member of the State Bar for at least 10 years.
Judge William G. Willet, who has health problems, has been unavailable for comment on his election plans.
Nelson said in an email to the MetNews, in response to an inquiry:
“Currently I am on vacation with my family. I will not be returning to work until January 22nd. As of this time I have not decided whether or not to seek reelection...the issue is the subject of an on-going discussion between my wife and I. Obviously a definitive choice will need to be made soon...but not yet. Right now I am simply enjoying my vacation time.”
Goldstein was appointed to the Superior Court in 2003 by then-Gov. Gray Davis.
She was an attorney at the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in the District of Columbia from 1972-77 and was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California from 1977-80, then became a private practitioner with firms that included Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP.
Her law degree was obtained from Rutgers in 1972.
Goldstein said she has “not yet decided” what she will be doing once she retires, remarking:
“I have so many interests that have been put aside while I have been on the bench.”
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