Judges oversee law and justice.
By PETER DICHELLIS
For many reasons, voters can find it difficult to gather information about judges, who are on an election ballot.
This November voters have a clear choice between three public defender attorneys or three prosecutors.
The three public defenders are: George A. Turner Jr. (Office 39), Ericka J. Wiley, (Office 48), and La Shae Henderson (Office 97), who call themselves “The Defenders of Justice.” The three told Bolts Magazine they would prioritize alternatives to incarceration.
On the other side of the voting guide, their counterparts are attorney and Manhattan Beach City Council member, Steve Napolitano (office 39), and two Deputy District Attorneys Renee Rose (Office 48), and Sharon Ransom (Office 97).
The local public defenders union endorsed all three defense attorney candidates, and all favor criminal justice policies similar to those of LA County DA George Gascon, who vowed his approach would “enhance safety.” (But California Department of Justice statistics reveal both violent and property crime increased in LA County since Gascon took office.)
And, coincidentally or not, DA Gascon packed his senior staff with former defense attorneys, including a vocal defund-the-police advocate.
So this November voters must decide whether to elect three committed criminal-defense attorneys to the judge’s bench, ensuring Gascon’s criminal-friendly policies endure, regardless of the outcome of the District Attorney election.
Indeed, Gascon’s policies are so criminal-friendly that a convicted child molester boasted about receiving a light sentence, a convicted murderer was so enamored with Gascon’s soft touch that he vowed to tattoo the DA’s name on his face, and a convicted felon killed two police officers after Gascon put him back on the streets via a plea bargain.
And in each case a judge oversaw the entire process, underscoring the importance of electing judicial candidates whose views one favors as a voter.
After all, in many cases, laws are ambiguous enough that judges proceed according to their personal interpretation. Judges also decide what evidence a jury is allowed to see, and can exercise judicial discretion in determining penalties, such as what type of sentence a convicted criminal receives.
So in my view November’s choice is clear: those who believe George Gascon deserves re-election can vote for the three public defender judicial candidates who most closely align with his beliefs.
Others are urged to vote for their opponents Steve Napolitano (Office 39), and District Attorney’s Renee Rose (Office 48), and Sharon Ransom (Office 97) click here.
Anyone who votes for George Gascon judges is delusional.
Or so privileged that they’ve never experienced a violent crime against themselves or a relative. VOTE differently so we can live in a safe Los Angeles again
Vote;
Steve Napolitano (Office 39), and
Renee Rose (Office 48), and
Sharon Ransom (Office 97)