The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County, an Inter-League Organization (ILO). and asked of all candidates for this office.

See below for questions on Reason for Running, Personal Qualities

Click on a name for other candidate information.   See also more information about this contest.

Answer from Mitchell W. Roth:

The old testament enjoins us as a society, "Justice, justice shall you pursue!" Perhaps no goal is more important than this in our America. In order to move our society toward this ideal we must strive to keep the price of obtaining justice low so that, as much as possible, it is equally available to all.

Judges can have a substantial impact on and make significant progress toward this goal by being ever mindful of the cost to litigants in time and money that results from the need to comply with the court's own administrative decisions and policies. Having represented all kinds of people in all kinds of cases over the years I have a unique appreciation for the enormous monetary and psychological costs of litigation on the parties.

My calling now is to spend the remaining 20 years of my professional life serving our community in the position that best enables me to use my gifts. That position is Judge of the Superior Court.

Answer from Carol Najera:

Why Carol Najera Is Running for Superior Court Judge

The key to keeping our families and homes safe is to reduce crime in our community. This can be done by electing good judges who are willing to be tough on crime yet mindful of the rights of the citizens we serve. For the past 18 years, I have served Los Angeles County as a criminal prosecutor and have reached the point where I possess the training and qualities needed to be a good judge. For these reason, I can serve our community more effectively as a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge rather than a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney.

I am running for Superior Court Judge because my training and career in the law have prepared me to be decisive, tough on crime and yet fair-minded, and as a parent, Hispanic woman, and lifelong resident of Los Angeles County, I am sensitive to the needs of the diverse individuals who reside here.

I wish to serve our community in a capacity that best uses my abilities. I want to do my part to make our community safe. I want to help administer justice and leave residents knowing that I am doing my part to keep you safe, while equally important, protecting your rights as individuals.

These are the reasons I am running for Superior Court Judge. I want to work to keep our community safe and with your help and vote, I will be able to do so.

Answer from Donna Groman:

My name is Donna Groman, and I'm running for Superior Court Judge, Office #69. For the past seven years, I've served as a Superior Court Commissioner and Referee, serving the same functions as a judge. In my 24 years as an attorney, an advocate, and a bench officer, I have worked in many different areas in the judicial system: juvenile dependency, juvenile delinquency, misdemeanor jury trials, small claims and traffic matters. For the past year I have presided over the arraignment master calendar, hearing approximately 120 cases each day.

I strive to apply the law in an even-handed manner, conscientiously, objectively, and fairly. I believe these are the foremost qualities of a judge, and I believe my independence and experience makes me the best-qualified candidate for Superior Court Judge in office #69.

I am running for Superior Court Judge so that I can take a more active role in the leadership and organizational structure of the court, to make it more efficient and responsive for everyone.

Answer from P. Michael Erwin:

I attended law school with the goal of eventually becoming a judge. I always knew the best place for me in the justice system was as the neutral problem-solver, rather than one of the advocates. I have faith and confidence in myself to be an excellent judge. I ask the voters to review my background and views and think for themselves.Your vote for me is one in which you will be proud. I want to make ordinary people feel as though the third branch of government, the judiciary, is accessible to them, and will treat them with the respect they deserve. On the other hand,I want to make wrongdoers in our society know that, while the court will respect their civil and human rights, wrongdoing has it's consequences. Treating others wrongly or causing others harm should not be tolerated by society, and society depends on their Judges to dispense real justice, not justify milquetoast positions in the name of the "law". Consequences for evildoers should be swift, serious and something no one would ever want to have to experience again. I will order the consequences for wrongdoing in each case as appropriate.

Answer from Judith Levey Meyer:

Ambition and conquest, without contribution, is without significance. How will History remember you? What will your contribution be? Our community needs judges who are respectful and courteous to the participants in the court system, as well as the process. I will be such a judge. A judge that contributes by effectively and respectfully delivering tough justice and strict sentences to violent and repeat criminal offenders, while protecting and enforcing the rights of victims.

Answer from P. Michael Erwin:

I have been on my own since age 18-I have had to earn everything I have. Nothing was given me. This taught me self reliance. A marriage into it's second decade,four grown children and a brand-new grandson taught me responsibility,compassion and the power of serious commitment. Education has given me the ability to apply those qualities as a judge along with good old-fashioned common sense.
I have been on all sides of the legal litigation arena. My first real taste was as an injured worker who had no idea what to do when the insurance company refused treatment for a legitimate work-related injury. What did I do? I studied and became a Certified Paralegal, then went to Law School while working full-time and became an attorney. In addition to being initiated into the system as a bewildered victim, I have vigorously represented injured and disabled people, defendants, and the people of the State of California.
All candidates for judge must be experienced attorneys. All say they will be fair and impartial. What sets me apart? Impartial? Yes. Fair? Yes. Able to understand each side of every case? Oh yes.
I have professional experience and qualities only life experience can teach.

Answer from Donna Groman:

I am the best-qualified candidate for Superior Court Judge in my race. While the other candidates are all experienced attorneys, I have seven years as a judicial officer, hearing and deciding cases, presiding over jury trials, and issuing sentences. This experience makes me the best-qualified candidate in this race.

I have served the legal profession for 24 years, 17 years as a lawyer and 7 on the bench as a Superior Court Commissioner and Referee. As a judicial officer, I have mastered each of my assignments, receiving praise from each of my supervising judges. Being a good judge is more than just locking up criminals -- a judge is a public servant and must treat all who come before him or her with dignity, respect, patience and fairness. There is no way to tell in advance whether a person would make a good judge until he or she is actually tested in a courtroom environment. My abilities on the bench are proven. My ability to mete out appropriate consequences for certain actions has been demonstrated as well as my ability to conduct myself in an appropriate manner.

Moreover, as a judicial officer, I have been actively involved in the community the court serves. I take advantage of whatever public speaking engagements are offered to us, such as speaking at schools or lecturing community groups. I maintain contact with community agencies that serve our court's population and I am open to accommodating their needs.

Answer from Carol Najera:

Personal Qualities which best equip Carol Najera to serve as a judge.

A judge must be highly skilled in the law, a good listener and decisive.

Professionally, I am a USC Law School graduate who has served as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney for over 18 years. I have convicted defendants for murder, kidnapping, home invasion robbery, sexual assault, domestic violence, hardcore gang crimes and hate crimes. I successfully co-prosecuted and convicted the Menendez Brothers for the murder of their parents. Personally, I am a mother, Hispanic woman and lifelong resident of Los Angeles County.

Based on my personal and professional experience, I have reached a point in my life where I possess the qualities and abilities to serve as a Superior Court Judge. I am highly skilled in the law, having actively practiced for over 18 years, and I am uniquely qualified in that I have prosecuted complicated major trials lasting several months and death penalty cases, which involve many diverse legal issues.

I have also supervised up to 30 attorneys at a time in the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office and, as a result of being involved in a bureaucracy of attorneys, I have learned to be a good listener, decisive and consistent. Of course, being a parent also helped to develop these qualities.

I grew up a Hispanic woman in Los Angeles County. I am sensitive to the needs of our community in terms of balancing the rights of the individuals with the needs of society to be safe and I will be fair-minded in administering the law.

Highly skilled in the law, a good listener, decisive, consistent, tough on crime yet fair-minded, sensitive to the needs of the community, along with the obvious qualities of honesty, integrity and good character are qualities that make a good judge and based on my life experiences both professionally and personally, these are the qualities I possess.

Answer from Mitchell W. Roth:

The best judicial candidate is older, has a broad and varied base of personal and professional experience, integrity, a passionate commitment to justice, empathy and compassion for others and the intellectual capacity to function in complex legal and often technical environments.

After 26 years of diverse experience as a lawyer, litigator and professor I am uniquely qualified to perform well as a Superior Court Judge. My ability to understand and tolerate points of view other than my own, my empathetic and compassionate nature borne on an acute awareness of my own human failings and weaknesses, and my commitment to the equal dignity of all men and women, have allowed me, an active member of Los Angeles' Jewish community, to obtain the endorsement of groups as unexpected as Arab American Television and Christian Orthodox Television.

My wife tells me I am the most even tempered person she knows. Everyone who knows me tells me I will make a great judge. When elected I will certainly strive to live up to their expectations.

Answer from Judith Levey Meyer:

My temperament, integrity, dedication, and intellect, provide the foundation for excellence, the essential qualities to be both a competent and reputable Superior Court Judge. When I preside over a case, I will provide fair and equal administration of the law, without corruption, greed, prejudice, or favor. This is my obligation to you and to our system of justice.

The order of the candidates is random and changes daily.