Steve Napolitano for Judge

Why Judge?

 

 Update! See Steve's Los Angeles County Bar Association's Judicial Elections Evaluation Final Evaluation ranking by clicking above. 

 

A lot of folks skip over the candidates for judge on their ballot because they don't know them or don't care.

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It's time to rethink that.

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If recent events have taught us anything, it's that judges matter. So does your vote. Justice, fairness, equality and integrity--these are the foundation of our legal system and it's up to judges to make sure these principles apply to everyone, not just the powerful and wealthy.

 

That's why I'm running for judge. I'm tough but fair, and I want to make the law work for all of us. I believe in consequences. I also believe in compassion. And I believe running for Judge is the best way for me to apply what I know and what I've learned after more than 30 years working for you in our communities and our legal system. 

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I believe we need more judges with diverse backgrounds who know our communities, who have worked with both victims and criminals, and who have the experience to know what works and what doesn't. That's who I am, and that's why I'm running for judge.

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Why Steve?

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When I was 13, my Mom and Dad gave me a copy of To Kill a Mockingbird to read for the summer. From that point on, I wanted to be Atticus Finch. I knew I was going to be an attorney and I knew I was going to fight for what's right. I've been doing that ever since.

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I've been an attorney for more than 20 years. I'm a state appointed attorney representing inmates before the Board of Parole Hearings—making sure they’re ready, advocating for a second chance for those who have earned it, and working with inmates to improve their chances. I'm like a public defender for people who are already in prison. I know what makes people turn to crime, and how to turn them around as well.

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I also serve as an Administrative Hearing Officer for cities, counties and agencies throughout the state. I’ve conducted thousands of hearings regarding administrative violations—reviewing evidence, applying the law to the facts of each case, and making written decisions that involve hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties. I already do what many Superior Civil Court judges do every day, and I’ve done it for LA City Fire, LA Metro, the County of Santa Cruz, and dozens of cities across California.

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I've been in public service for more than 30 years, serving as the youngest elected and now longest serving Mayor and City Councilmember for the City of Manhattan Beach, where public safety is always my first priority. I’ve successfully championed initiatives that have improved our quality of life, protected our environment, and supported our seniors and children.

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I also served as Senior Deputy to LA County Supervisor Don Knabe, representing him in communities across LA County, overseeing legal matters, county departments and initiatives, and addressing our most urgent issues, including homelessness, public safety, and infrastructure improvements. 

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I was born and raised in Manhattan Beach, where I attended our local public schools. I went on to graduate with a degree in Fine Art from Loyola Marymount University and then Loyola Law School. I served as a law clerk to the environmental group Heal the Bay and the LA Community College District before joining a law firm that specialized in education and municipal law. After joining Supervisor Knabe's team in 2005, I opened my own practice and have since specialized in parole law and adjudication. I'm raising my two kids, age 9 and 12, just a few blocks from where I grew up.

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No candidate has more experience in the things that matter most to our communities.  

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