What makes a Criminal Gang Prosecutor the perfect candidate for judge?

By Michael V. Jesic

Judges have more of an impact on the day-to-day lives of the citizens in this county than any other elected official does. Making the right decision on who presides over our courtrooms impacts all of us.

One of the most important responsibilities of a Superior Court judge is to protect our families from violent predators. Roughly two-thirds of our courtrooms in Los Angeles County handle exclusively criminal cases, and every courtroom can been called upon at any time to handle a criminal trial. Clearly, Los Angeles County needs judges who have backgrounds in handling serious felony cases to ensure that our families and children are safe. Unfortunately, this does not always happen. Many times we are faced with courtrooms wherein the judicial officer has little or no experience with serious crimes or violent criminals. If the judicial officer is a Commissioner, the parties have the option of not stipulating, meaning that the commissioner cannot hear the case. The same is not true for judges. This lack of experience has grave consequences for our citizens. If a judge in the courtroom makes a mistake in a civil case, someone may suffer financially. In a criminal case, a mistake means that violent criminals are let back onto our streets.

I have been fortunate to have been in the courtroom almost every day over the past 12 years. I have dedicated my career to seeking justice for victims and making Los Angeles County a safer place to live. As a criminal prosecutor, I have prosecuted some of the most violent criminals in Los Angeles County, with a 96% conviction rate. If elected, I will continue this fight at the judicial level, making sure our citizens get the justice they deserve. It is because of this dedication, that I have been endorsed by Judge Steven Van Sicklen, Supervising Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court Criminal Division, and Judge Peter Espinoza, Assistant Supervising Judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court Criminal Division, the judges who oversee all of our courtrooms in the Criminal Division in Los Angeles County. I have also been endorsed by the labor unions that represent the Superior Court Clerks, the Court Reporters, Courtroom Bailiffs, and law enforcement personnel. I am supported by those who are in our courtrooms everyday and have had the opportunity to see all of the candidates at work.

For over 12 years, I have prosecuted some of Los Angeles County's most violent offenders for the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office. I spent close to seven years prosecuting hardcore gang members while part of the District Attorney's Hardcore Gang Division. While assigned to the Hardcore Gang Division, I was assigned to prosecute gang related murders and attempted murders perpetrated by the worst gang members in our community. I was part of the highly successful C.L.E.A.R. program, where members of the District Attorney's Office, City Attorney's Office, Los Angeles Police Department, Los Angeles Sheriffs Department, Los Angeles County Probation and State Parole and community leaders joined forces to combat gang violence and return neighborhoods back to the good citizens that live in them. I worked together with community leaders while part of the San Fernando Valley Coalition on Gangs, to find solutions to the ever-increasing gang problem. I was also selected to be a part of a steering committee, designed to address ways to combat gang violence through suppression methods aimed at taking the most violent gang members off the street.

My efforts have been recognized by victim's rights groups, my colleagues at the District Attorney's Office, along with local, state and federal agencies. I have received awards and commendations from the United States House of Representatives, California State Senate and Assembly, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles City Council, Los Angeles City Attorney's Office, former Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn and a letter of appreciation from California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. I was honored by my own office as Deputy District Attorney of the Month and for Excellence in Domestic Violence Prosecutions. I also received the 2005 Outstanding Prosecutor Award from Justice for Homicide Victims.

I have all of the qualities that we look for in a judge: I am fair, ethical, reasonable, well grounded, compassionate, professional, and experienced. I believe that violent criminals have no place in our society, yet, I never lose compassion for those who truly want to take a different direction in life. I understand that for some, our only choice is to protect the public, while for others, treatment can one day make good people productive once again. This is why I am endorsed by District Attorney Steve Cooley and 30 Los Angeles Superior Court Judges. I will make a difference as a Superior Court Judge.