Deputy District Attorney Wins LASC Seat

Friday, March 6, 2026

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Deputy District Attorney Wins LASC Seat

By a MetNews Staff Writer

Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Mariela Torres has been assured election to a Los Angeles Superior Court judgeship by virtue of two persons who filed declarations of intent to seek the same office, No. 141, opting to run for other seats.

Her potential competitors were Administrative Law Judge Dieter Carlos Dammeier, who decided late Wednesday to seek Office No. 131, and Samuel Wolloch Krause, who became a candidate for Office No. 65. Each faces three competitors.

Torres was admitted to the State Bar of California on Dec. 5, 2006. Her law degree is from Pacific Coast University, an unaccredited distance-learning school that is shutting down this year.

She is a trustee of the Southeast District Bar Association.

Christides’ Choices

In doubt as of press time yesterday was whether Deputy District Attorney Angie Christides will file nominating papers for Office No. 14—which Deputy District Attorney Irene Lee is seeking—or Office No. 39, coveted by Deputy Public Defender Binh Q. Dang.

Lee has the endorsements of District Attorney Nathan Hochman and former District Attorneys Steve Cooley and Jackie Lacey, along with 75 Los Angeles Superior Court judges and has a professional campaign consultant, Crystal Litz. Dang—who received only 25.5% of the vote on March 5, 2024, in a two-person contest for the Orange Superior Court—is seen as a less formidible opponent, but it is rumored that Dang is a friend of Christides.

Christides did not respond yesterday to an inquiry as to her intent.

Two Seats

Also in doubt was whether two persons who have taken out nominating papers will file them by tomorrow’s deadline. They are Deputy District Attorney Rosalba Luz Gutierrez and Deputy Public Defender Zachary Smith.

If they run, Gutierrez wlll be in a race with Ann M. Maurer, Glendale’s chief assistant city attorney, and Smith wlll be vyying for the office with Deputy District Attorney Gloria Marin. Mauer and Marin are both represented by Litz.

The deadline for filing nominating papers is today.

Deputy District Attorney Tal K. Valbuena is challenging Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Robert Draper. Private practitioner Allan L. Dollison took out nominarting papers for the seat, but said yesterday:

“I have decided to not pursue the race. I communicated that yesterday to Mr. Valbuena and wished him good luck.”