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A New Generation of
Judicial Leadership
for judge seat no. 2
ENDORSED BY
Why I am running
I’m running for Judge to help protect the system that gave me refuge 25 years ago. I came to this country alone with $200 and hope. I started as a dishwasher and built a life from the ground up. As I came to appreciate how beautiful this country is, I also saw its flaws — especially racial injustice and prejudice.
Serving as a juror changed my life. I witnessed a Black man targeted because of his race and charged with murder. That experience led me to the law — to fight injustice and to help ensure innocent people are never wrongfully prosecuted.
Today, I serve as a Deputy District Attorney in Mental Health Court, where I have tried over 100 cases to verdict. My work sits at the intersection of LA's most urgent challenges: mental illness, substance abuse, homelessness, and public safety.
Outside the courtroom, I serve as a County LGBTQ Commissioner, amplifying the voices of marginalized communities. And as an adjunct professor, I teach law to ESL students from immigrant backgrounds.
I’m running for Judge because too many people no longer believe equal justice exists in our courts — in part because the judiciary does not always reflect the communities it serves. As an immigrant who learned English and worked two jobs putting myself through school, I have lived many of the struggles people bring into our courtrooms. I would bring that lived experience to the bench and be among the first openly gay people of color elected to the Los Angeles Superior Court.
I am living proof of the American dream, and I ask for your support to help preserve equal justice for others.
JUDICIAL PHILOSOPHY
My philosophy is simple: treat every person the way I want to be treated.
That means treating every person with dignity, listening carefully, applying the law fairly, and ensuring people leave the courtroom understanding what was decided and why. That is how trust in the courts is built.
What I bring to the bench
A lived immigrant experience
A firsthand understanding of navigating complex systems—and why fairness and clarity in the courtroom matter.
Experience in Mental Health Justice
A treatment-informed approach that balances accountability, dignity, and public safety.
A commitment to being heard
Every person deserves patience, respect, and a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
Extensive courtroom experience
First-chaired over 130 trials, with a specialization in forensic psychology.
Service to underserved communities
As a County Commissioner, advocate, and mentor working to expand access and opportunity.
A dedication to education
As a professor teaching ESL students and uplifting underprivileged youth.
Judicial temperament
Integrity, humility, patience, and respect—the qualities our courts deserve.
Community Involvement & Recognitions
Photo disclaimer: These images reflect community engagement and public service activities.
No endorsement is implied.
