League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA March 2, 2004 Election
	Carol Najera Answers Questions Candidate for Superior Court Judge; County of Los Angeles; Office 69

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. Why are you running for Superior Court Judge?

Why Carol Najera Is Running for Superior Court Judge

The key to keeping our families and homes safe is to reduce crime in our community. This can be done by electing good judges who are willing to be tough on crime yet mindful of the rights of the citizens we serve. For the past 18 years, I have served Los Angeles County as a criminal prosecutor and have reached the point where I possess the training and qualities needed to be a good judge. For these reason, I can serve our community more effectively as a Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge rather than a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney.

I am running for Superior Court Judge because my training and career in the law have prepared me to be decisive, tough on crime and yet fair-minded, and as a parent, Hispanic woman, and lifelong resident of Los Angeles County, I am sensitive to the needs of the diverse individuals who reside here.

I wish to serve our community in a capacity that best uses my abilities. I want to do my part to make our community safe. I want to help administer justice and leave residents knowing that I am doing my part to keep you safe, while equally important, protecting your rights as individuals.

These are the reasons I am running for Superior Court Judge. I want to work to keep our community safe and with your help and vote, I will be able to do so.

2. What are the personal qualities which best equip you to serve as a judge?

Personal Qualities which best equip Carol Najera to serve as a judge.

A judge must be highly skilled in the law, a good listener and decisive.

Professionally, I am a USC Law School graduate who has served as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney for over 18 years. I have convicted defendants for murder, kidnapping, home invasion robbery, sexual assault, domestic violence, hardcore gang crimes and hate crimes. I successfully co-prosecuted and convicted the Menendez Brothers for the murder of their parents. Personally, I am a mother, Hispanic woman and lifelong resident of Los Angeles County.

Based on my personal and professional experience, I have reached a point in my life where I possess the qualities and abilities to serve as a Superior Court Judge. I am highly skilled in the law, having actively practiced for over 18 years, and I am uniquely qualified in that I have prosecuted complicated major trials lasting several months and death penalty cases, which involve many diverse legal issues.

I have also supervised up to 30 attorneys at a time in the Los Angeles District Attorneys Office and, as a result of being involved in a bureaucracy of attorneys, I have learned to be a good listener, decisive and consistent. Of course, being a parent also helped to develop these qualities.

I grew up a Hispanic woman in Los Angeles County. I am sensitive to the needs of our community in terms of balancing the rights of the individuals with the needs of society to be safe and I will be fair-minded in administering the law.

Highly skilled in the law, a good listener, decisive, consistent, tough on crime yet fair-minded, sensitive to the needs of the community, along with the obvious qualities of honesty, integrity and good character are qualities that make a good judge and based on my life experiences both professionally and personally, these are the qualities I possess.