Ahead of the June primary election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
Name: Angie Christides
Current job title: Deputy District Attorney
Age: 48
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Surfside
Campaign website or social media: angie4judge2026.com
What do you consider to be your judicial philosophy? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
I believe a judge must be fair, impartial and committed to applying the law as written. Every person who enters the courtroom deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, and every case deserves careful attention to the facts and the law.
I am also committed to ensuring meaningful access to justice. That means maintaining a courtroom that is well-prepared, respectful and efficient so that cases are resolved fairly and in a timely manner. Justice delayed can undermine confidence in the courts, and litigants deserve to have their matters heard and decided without unnecessary delay.
How do you think your personal experience — legal or otherwise — would inform your decisions as a judge? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
For more than 20 years, I have served our community as a deputy district attorney, guided by the principle that justice must be fair, thoughtful and grounded in respect for people and the law. That experience has shaped how I would serve as a judge.
I have prosecuted serious and violent crimes, including more than 100 trials, over 70 jury verdicts, more than 25 murder cases and two death penalty matters. These cases required careful listening, sound judgment and fairness under pressure.
At the same time, I have seen that accountability and compassion work together. While at the Long Beach Courthouse, I ran the Veterans’ Court and reviewed hundreds of alternative sentencing requests and thousands of mental health diversion petitions. Watching individuals regain stability reinforced my belief in both responsibility and rehabilitation.
These dichotomous experiences have shown me how court decisions affect victims, defendants and families. They have taught me to approach every case with humility, patience and respect.
As a judge, I would follow the law, the facts and binding precedent. My experience would guide how I listen and evaluate each case, while ensuring fairness, dignity and respect for everyone.
How would you approach situations where you have judicial discretion within the law? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
Judicial discretion is an important responsibility, but it is not unlimited. It must always be exercised within the framework of the law, guided by the facts of each case and the applicable legal standards.
I would approach discretion thoughtfully and deliberately. That means carefully considering the circumstances of the case, the arguments of counsel and any relevant statutory or case law. It also means being consistent, transparent in my reasoning and mindful that similar cases should be treated in similar ways.
At the same time, discretion exists for a reason — it allows a judge to account for the unique facts and human realities behind each case. My role would be to balance accountability, fairness and, where appropriate, the opportunity for rehabilitation, while always ensuring that public safety and the integrity of the judicial process are maintained.
How would you weigh your own personal beliefs against the law, should they conflict? (Please answer in 200 words or less.)
A judge’s duty is to uphold the law, not to impose personal beliefs. If there is ever a tension between the two, the law must govern.
My role would be to apply the law faithfully and impartially, based on the facts presented in each case. Personal views — whatever they may be — cannot influence judicial decision-making.
At the same time, I believe it is important for a judge to be self-aware and disciplined, recognizing that everyone brings life experience to the bench. The responsibility is to ensure those experiences do not affect the outcome, but instead reinforce the importance of listening carefully, treating all parties with respect and approaching each case with an open mind.
As an existing member of the legal community, how would you handle potential claims of misconduct against local attorneys, law firms or law enforcement organizations? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
No one — whether an attorney, law enforcement officer or organization — is above the law, and every claim of misconduct deserves to be evaluated on its merits.
If entrusted with this responsibility, I would follow the governing law and established procedures, ensuring all parties are heard and that decisions are based on credible evidence and legal standards. Maintaining neutrality and avoiding even the appearance of bias is essential.
Accountability is critical to public trust, but so is access to justice. Courts must be places where concerns can be raised safely and addressed transparently. Part of that responsibility is helping bridge the gap between the justice system and the community by ensuring proceedings are fair, understandable, and respectful to everyone involved.
What is your philosophy on judicial activism and a judge’s potential role in shaping or setting public policy? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
A judge’s role is to interpret and apply the law — not to create policy or advance personal views. Questions of public policy are properly decided by the legislative branch, which is accountable to the voters.
Judicial activism, in my view, is inconsistent with the limited and essential role of the judiciary. A judge must remain faithful to the Constitution, statutes and binding precedent, and decide cases based on the facts and the law as they exist — not as the judge might prefer them to be.
That said, judicial decisions can have real-world impacts, and courts inevitably play a role in clarifying and applying the law. My responsibility would be to do so carefully and narrowly, resolving only the issues before me and providing clear, well-reasoned decisions grounded in established legal principles.