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Only One Prospect of Additional Open Seat Looms
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Prospects of an additional Los Angeles Superior Court open seat appearing on the June 7 ballot appeared dim yesterday with all of the judges who are up for election and who have taken out nominating petitions having filed those petitions except one who is silent as to her plans and three others who say they will perfect their candidacies by Friday’s deadline. Not responding to inquiries yesterday was Judge Debra Archuleta, who was elected six years ago in an acrimonious contest. A former deputy district attorney, she had difficulty adapting to the role of a judge and at one point was threatening to sue the court over her assignment, alleging it was not accommodating her medical needs.
Judges Olivia Rosales, Ronald F. Frank, and Mark Hanasono had not filed their election papers by press time yesterday, but said they intend to do so.
If an incumbent does not file by Friday, there will be a five-day extension. During that period, any eligible person, other than the incumbent, may file the papers.
In other election developments, Deputy District Attorney Fernanda Maria Barreto and Deputy Public Defender Elizabeth Lashley-Haynes filed their nominating papers yesterday for Office No. 67, one of six open seats. Deputy District Attorney is also expected to compete in that contest.
Six persons filed declarations of intent to run for that office but two—Deputy District Attorneys Abby Baron and Keith Koyano—opted to seek other seats, and Deputy District Attorney David Chiang dropped out of the race, explaining:
“This election cycle has seen a historically low number of seats—only six this cycle—being contested by no less than twenty-three candidates. In our seat alone, not one but two other Deputy District Attorneys, along with three others, have filed to run, making it difficult to know which candidate will emerge victorious. And the winner faces a long, difficult, and expensive campaign that will wind up being less about the values and future of the judiciary—the values that our campaign has stood for—and more about money and personal attacks on our opponents.”
He added:
“[W]hen the time is right, we will continue our fight for a seat on the bench, and at the table.”
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