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Judge Sanjay Kumar Reflects on Career in Law
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SANJAY KUMAR Superior Court judge |
(Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Sanjay Kumar, who is slated to retire from the bench on July 15, yesterday provided the reflections below.)
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am very fortunate to have made some good friends and had some memorable experiences since graduating from law school. Important people molded the attorney I was and the judge I became.
During my tenure at the California Attorney General’s Office, mostly under Attorney General Dan Lungren, my mentor and colleague, John Gorey, strongly advocated for my assignments to important cases like Charles Keating Jr., Romero, and the Menendez brothers. It was due to the support of Gorey and a few and others in the office that I was able to argue five cases in the California Supreme Court. When I left the office, I was running a team of lawyers assigned exclusively to federal habeas corpus; there were many instances where I was impressed with the legal minds of those lawyers and thought I was very lucky to work with them.
On the bench, I have fond memories of collaborating on intricate legal issues with Judge Sam Ohta; that dates back to 2001 and continues today. We have been friends for a long time, and I have admired his acumen from the beginning.
My friend and fellow ex-deputy attorney general, [retired Court of Appeal] Justice Sandy Kriegler played a significant role in my development as a bench officer. He was the person who encouraged me to apply for a commissioner position (one of my better career decisions) and ultimately a very strong supporter of my efforts for judicial appointment. Since his retirement in 2018, I have missed his presence on the bench. I am deeply grateful to the superior court and Appellate Division Presiding Judge Patti Jo McKay for allowing me to sit with him, on several occasions, as a pro tem justice in Division Five.
The last 15 years on the Appellate Division have been rewarding. Although it is a relatively unknown wing of the superior court, it houses judges who have an exceptional work ethic and are committed to drafting opinions that provide proper guidance to the trial courts regardless of personal beliefs or political trends. I considered Presiding Judge McKay to be an intelligent colleague when I began in the Appellate Division but now she is also a sister-like figure.
My plans after retirement are not yet solidified but my overall objective is to spend more time with family and less time on the 101 Freeway.
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