Review note: Knock LA and Metropolitan News-Enterprise may have more bias because they are advocacy or endorsement sources compared to other formal government and nonprofit journalism sources.
- results.lavote.gov (opens in a new tab)LA County RR/CC — Certified results, June 2, 2026 primary (certified 2026-06-26)
- content.lavote.gov (opens in a new tab)LA County RR/CC — Offices Scheduled for Election, November 3, 2026 (6/26/26)
- laist.com (opens in a new tab)LAist — LA County judicial races guide (LACBA ratings, ballot designations)
- lacba.org (opens in a new tab)LA County Bar Association — 2026 Judicial Candidate Evaluations
- metnews.com (opens in a new tab)Metropolitan News-Enterprise — 2026 judicial race profiles and endorsements
- knock-la.com (opens in a new tab)Knock LA — June 2026 judicial voter guide
- campaignfinance.lacounty.gov (opens in a new tab)LA County campaign-finance disclosure (Registrar-Recorder / NetFile)
Last updated September 21, 2026.
County
Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 64
This person holds a countywide seat on the Los Angeles County Superior Court. This is the state trial court. The term is six years.
This race is headed to a November 3 runoff. It is between prosecutor Maria Ghobadi, with 44.1%, and public defender Rhonda Haymon, with 42.2%. It is a close race and a classic choice between courtroom perspectives.
The winner serves a six-year term on the county's trial bench, assigned anywhere from criminal and civil to family and probate court. Trial judges rule alone — their decisions are checked mainly on appeal — so the person matters more than in almost any other down-ballot office.
Voters usually see only a three-word job title, so two independent signals matter most: the LA County Bar Association's peer ratings (Exceptionally Well Qualified → Not Qualified), and endorsements from organizations whose judgment you trust. A prosecutor-vs-defender matchup like this one is also a values question: which professional lens do you want on the bench?
Maria Ghobadi
Maria Ghobadi is a Deputy District Attorney with about 11 years of experience. They have more than 85 jury trials, including 21 homicide cases. The county bar rated Ghobadi Well Qualified, the higher rating in this race. Ghobadi is backed by the legal press and the county Democratic Party.
Rhonda A. Haymon
Rhonda A. Haymon is a Deputy Public Defender with more than 25 years of experience. The county bar rated Haymon Qualified. They are the progressive slate's pick, backed by Knock LA and La Defensa.
Your pick
A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.