Metropolitan News-Enterprise

 

Thursday, February 3, 2022

 

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Sixth Open Seat Emerges in L.A. Superior Court Elections

Judge Rochman Says He Won’t Seek Reelection, Will Serve Out His Term, Ending 51-Year Career on Bench; Judge Kaddo Appears Not to Be Facing Election Challenge; Judge Garnett Faces Possible Challenges

 

By a MetNews Staff Writer

 

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Morton Rochman said yesterday he will not be seeking reelection this year, creating a sixth open seat in the June 87 primary.

Deputy Public Defender Patrick Hare yesterday filed a declaration of intent to run for that seat, Office No. 151. Hare’s campaign website lists endorsements by 30 sitting Los Angeles Superior Court judges, as well as former State Bar President Luis Rodriguez and Mia Yamamoto, past president of the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice and of the Japanese American Bar Association.

He has a campaign finance committee which reported having $63,823.59 in cash on hand as of Dec. 31. He is represented by political consultant Crystal M. Litz.

In other election developments yesterday:

•It appears the Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James Kaddo, who turns 88 today, has been spared an election challenge. Van Nuys lawyer Naser Khoury, who said he would run against the incumbent, yesterday took out declarations of intent to run for five of the six open seats.

•Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett—who has been nominated for the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, but to play it safe is a candidate for reelection to the Superior Court—faces a second possible challenge. Deputy District Attorney Karen A. Brako, who previously took out a declaration to run for an open seat, yesterday took out a declaration to run for Office No. 3, held by Garnett. West Hollywood bankruptcy attorney Frank Amador took out and filed a petition on which to gather signatures to defray the cost of the fling fee, indicating he would run for that office, but has not taken out a declaration and won’t discuss his intentions.

 •Los Angeles Deputy County Counsel Shan K Thever took out a declaration of intent to run for Office No. 118, an open seat. He has no campaign website and has no finance committee. 

50-Year Career

Rochman, 89, has been judge for more than 50 years. He was appointed to the Los Angeles Municipal Court by Gov. Ronald Reagan on March 30, 1971, and took office the following day.

In 1984, he served as presiding judge. Gov. George Deukmejian elevated Rochman to the Superior Court on Dec. 23, 1985, and again, he was sworn in the next day.

The judge said yesterday he will serve out his term. He related that he has “no plans at this time” for retirement activities.

Five open seats were previously known—those held by Judges John P. Doyle, Randall F. Pacheco, and Bruce Marrs, Stephen M. Moloney, and Raul A. Sahagun.

Lone Judge

 There is only one judge who has not taken out a declaration of intent to run or told of a plan to do so: Lilian Vega Jacobs. She was appointed to her post on Nov. 12, 2014, at age 48, by Gov. Jerry Brown. 

An indication that Vera Jacobs does intend to run is that on Jan. 24, she took out a “signatures in lieu” petition on which to gather signatures, each reducing the cost of the filing fee by a third of a dollar.

There are thus six confirmed open seats, the prospect of an additional open seat if Vega Jacobs does not run, and one seat that is technically open: that of Kathleen Kennedy, who retired in December.

However, Gov. Gavin Newsom can appoint her successor at any time until a candidate has perfected his or her candidacy by filing nominating papers.

The period for filing declarations of intent ends next Wednesday for contests where an incumbent is challenged and on Feb. 14 for open seats.

The nominating period is from Feb. 14 to March 11 except that where an incumbent filed a declaration of intent but does not file nominating papers, the period will be extended by five days.

 

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