Thursday, March 12, 2026
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ALJ’s Chosen Ballot Designation Disappears
Office of Registrar-Recorder Considering Whether Description of Candidate Thanayi Lindsey Meets Statutory Criteria
By a MetNews Staff Writer
The Office of Los Angeles Court Registrar-Recorder has, at least for the time being while it mulls the matter, removed from its website the ballot designation chosen by Los Angeles Superior Court candidate Thanayi Lindsey who wants to be billed as “Judge of Administrative California Hearings-Special Education Division.”
Elections Code §13107(b)(2) provides that “a candidate for judicial office who is an active member of the State Bar employed by” the state use “(A) Words designating the actual job title….” Subd. (B)(3)(d) specifies:
“If the candidate performs quasi-judicial functions for a governmental agency, the full name of the agency shall be included.”
Under Government Code §§11500 and 11502, Lindsey’s actual job title is “Administrative Law Judge,” and the agency for which she works, according to §11370.2 of that code, is the “Office of Administrative Hearings.”
Lindsey is seeking Office No. 181. Competing with her is Los Angeles Superior Court Commissioner Ryan Dibble. Meanwhile, as of mid-afternoon yesterday, Los Angeles
Deputy County Counsel Anna Slotky Reitano remained listed as “Deputy County Counsel, Justice and Safety Division, County of Los Angeles.” Sec. 13107(b)(2) requires her “actual job title”—“Deputy County Counsel”—and §13107(b)(3)(b) mandates reference to the county, but there is no authority for specifying the unit to which the candidate is assigned.
Also undisturbed was the designation of David DeJute as “Law Professor/Attorney.” DeJute holds the position at Pepperdine’s School of Law of an adjunct professor.
Samuel Wolloch Krause is also without a ballot designation. The one he chose was “Attorney/Temporary Judge” but a 1988 Court of Appeal decision bars use of the word “Judge” by persons who do not hold an office under Art. VI of the California Constitution, and the Office of Registrar-Recorder removed it.
A 1995 decision additionally allows use of the word “Judge” by an administrative law judge.
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