Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Friday, November 1, 2019

 

Page 1

 

Judges Ramirez, Rotenberg, Sterling Won’t Seek Reelection

Reuben, Kelley Emerge as Candidates; Yang Takes Out Declarations for Four Offices

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Three Los Angeles Superior Court judges—Daniel Ramirez, Fred Rotenberg, and William N. Sterling—said yesterday they will not run for reelection in the March 3 primary, thus creating eight known open seats.

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Scott Andrew Yang and private practitioner Timothy D. Reuben yesterday took out declarations of intent to run for Office No. 93, presently held by Judge Michael Amerian, who was appointed to the Superior Court just last year. Amerian did not respond to an inquiry as to whether he will be running.

However, if he does run, as would be expected, neither Yang nor Reuben is inclined to oppose him. Yang said yesterday he has no desire to challenge an incumbent, relating that his campaign consultant, Crystal M. Litz, ascertained from the Office of Registrar-Recorder that Offices 93 is an open seat, and Reuben related that he simply took out papers for the wrong office, intending to file for a different seat.

Four Declarations

On Wednesday, Yang took out a declaration to run for Office No. 129, held by Judge Thomas Trent Lewis, who is retiring in December. Yesterday, he took out two declarations: for Office No. 145, occupied by Judge Richard Romero, who has said he is not running, and for Office No. 131, held by Ramirez, who confirmed yesterday afternoon that he will not be a candidate.

Deputy District Attorney Kelly Michelle Kelley, running as “Michelle Kelley,” filed a declaration for Ramirez’s office.

Yang, who is assigned to his office’s sex crimes unit, has a law degree from Southwestern. He was admitted to practice in 2003.

Reuben, of the Westwood law firm of Reuben Raucher & Blum, received his law degree from Harvard, and was admitted to the State Bar in 1980.

Kelley was admitted in 2007. The Seattle University School of Law is her alma mater.

Ramirez’s Statement

Ramirez said:

“After 25 years as a judge in Los Angeles County, I’ve decided to retire. I will be retiring in February 2020. I’m not able to discuss my future plans, but I intend to remain active in the civil and family law community.

“I’m grateful for the support of my family, my second family which is my fellow judicial officers, and so many dedicated attorneys who made my job the best job in the world. It’s been a wonderful journey.”

 Sterling, appointed to the bench in 2001, said of his plans:

“I may sit by assignment and will definitely travel, read, exercise and time will tell what else.”

Rotenberg’s Plans

Rotenberg—who gained a seat on the Pasadena Municipal Court in 1996 through successfully challenging an incumbent, and was elevated to the Superior Court in 2000 through unification—related:

“As for my plans (as long as I continue to be blessed with good health) I’m hoping to sit on assignment throughout this amazing State, spend more time with family, continue my international travels and travel more domestically to hike in and explore our National Parks visit all of the Presidential Libraries and take the occasional road trip to cheer on my favorite sports teams.”

Judges whose terms expire in January 2021, have not made known whether they do not plan to run, and had not taken out a declaration of intent by press time yesterday (other than Amerian), are:

Paul A. Bacigalupo, Office No. 8; Robert Applegate, Office No. 76; Patrick Meyers, Office No. 80; Kevin Brown, Office No. 97; and Richard Walmark, Office No. 165.

Bacigalupo said yesterday he does plan to run.

Judges who have indicated they are not running—in addition to Lewis, Ramirez, Romero, Rotenberg, and Sterling—are Randolph Rogers, Carol Rose and Debre Katz Weintraub.

 

Copyright 2019, Metropolitan News Company