Some of the seats, open and otherwise, on the ballot for the Los Angeles Superior Court primary elections on June 2 are easy calls to make for clearly, well, superior candidates who stand out above the others running.
Others, including Office 65, which has no incumbent judge in the race, are much harder ones, because several candidates are very much worth your votes and all would serve with integrity on the bench. Indeed, all four candidates in this race are rated “Qualified” by the Los Angeles County Bar Association.
In this race, we’re pleased to endorse Chellei Jimenez, a High Desert lawyer whose smarts, life story and passion for the job are evident and compelling. But it was a very hard call to make, especially considering the excellent track record and campaign of the other candidates.
Jimenez, who manages her own law office but has served as a judge pro tem throughout L.A. County, makes a compelling case for why she deserves to become a full-time judge.
Asked for her “elevator pitch” about why she deserves our endorsement and your vote, Jimenez said, “I think the county wants a judge who is going to understand regular people who are going through their worst day, worst week, worst year ever.” Although she hasn’t served, as so many candidates for Superior Court have, as a deputy district attorney, a prosecutor, for the county, Jimenez notes: “I am a quick study and am going to be able to get things done. Most importantly, I listen.”
When she was 11 years old, Jimenez says, as her parents went through a bitter divorce that involved domestic violence, she decided then and there that she wanted to be a family-law attorney. She finished her B.A. in three years and chose Whittier Law School because it offered an accelerated degree of just over two years rather than three because she was so eager to represent troubled and endangered spouses.
If elected, Jimenez promises “to run an efficient, prepared courtroom that respects people’s lives and moves cases forward.” She has been a compassionate and thorough lawyer, and we have every reason to believe she will continue that as a judge.
Anna Slotky Reitano, a deputy county counsel in the Justice and Safety Division who formerly served as a Los Angeles County public defender for over a decade, is also a compelling choice for progressive voters. She previously ran for judge in 2022 as part of the reform-minded “Defenders of Justice” set of candidates. She emphasizes, however, that her experience should dispel concerns about bias.
“In my career, I’ve worked on all sides of the system, with law enforcement, with individuals accused of crimes, civil defense for the County and working closely with different County departments,” she explained. “That experience has reinforced for me how important it is that decisions are grounded in the law and the record, not ideology.”
Candidate Samuel Krause is another excellent lawyer seeking the seat. He has also served as a temporary judge across the country. He also brings with him a distinctive perspective on the challenges faced by those with disabilities. “Since a spinal cord injury in 2023, I have become even more aware of the barriers many people face in navigating public systems, including the courts. That experience has deepened my commitment to treating every person with dignity and to supporting a court system that is accessible, understandable, and fair.”
And finally, there’s Justin Clayton is a young public defender endorsed by the county Democratic Party. He wants to see a justice and prison system more focused on mental health and treatment. Clayton has secured endorsements from the Los Angeles County Democratic Party and the far-left group La Defensa.
Ultimately, however, we encourage voters to cast their vote for Chellei Jimenez, who brings with her personal and professional experiences that we think will serve the justice system well.
As she vowed: “In my courtroom, my commitment would be to ensure that every litigant, regardless of background, education, or resources, feels heard and understands the process. Fairness is not just about the outcome; it is also about how people experience the system.”