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Pundits See Victories for Court Incumbents, Brookens
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Three close observers of judicial elections all predict that the two challenged incumbents of the Los Angeles Superior Court—Lynn Olson and Emily Spear—will retain their seats in today’s election, and the pundits are agreed that Deputy District Attorney Christmas Brookens will prevail over her sole opponent, Deputy District Attorney Keith Koyano.
Soothsaying by one of the three appeared in yesterday’s issue. That person—whose track record is remarkably accurate—foresees this outcome:
Office No. 12: Lynn D. Olson
Office No. 38: Jacob Lee, George A. Turner Jr.
Office No. 48: Renee Rose, Ericka Wiley
Office No. 97: Sharon Ransom, La Shae Henderson
Office No. 115: Christmas Brookens
Office No. 124: Emily Theresa Spear
Office No. 130: Leslie Gutierrez, Christopher Darden
Office No. 135: Steven Mac, Georgia Huerta
Office No. 137: Tracey Blount, Luz Herrera
Another skilled prognosticator provides this forecast:
Seat 12: Lynn Olson
Seat 39: George Turner and Jacob Lee
Seat 48: Renee Rose
Seat 97: Ransom and Sam Abourched
Seat 114: Emily Spear
Seat 115: Christmas Brookens
Seat 130: Chris Darden
Seat 135: Steven Mac (maybe run-off with Huerta)
Seat 137: Tracey Blount and Michael Berg
A third pundit offers this discussion of the candidates’ prospects:
Office #12
Judge Lynn Olson will retain her seat, her opponent’s ill-conceived challenge has only succeeded in maintaining the My Cousin Vinny stereotype of ill-prepared public defenders.
Office #39
I doubt any candidate will be able to garner more than 50% plus one votes in the Primary, so this four-way race will be a run-off in the general election, with Deputy D.A. Jason Lee the only candidate have confidence in being on the ballot in November.
Office #48
In this three-way race, a November run-off seems likely. Historically, Renee Rose’s gender and ballot title advantages would have been sufficient to assure her of a place on the ballot in November, perhaps even an outright win in the primary. Times have changed, nevertheless, I expect Rose to face off with Erika Wiley in the general election.
Office #93
The only race I can predict with 100% confidence; the write-in candidate will not win. Congratulations to Victor Avila, a worthy addition to the bench.
Office #97
This is a three-way race where a November run-off is more or less certain with Deputy D.A. Sharon Ransom’s gender, race, endorsement and ballot title advantages equally certain to assure her a place on the ballot in November where she will prevail over whichever candidate she faces.
Office #115
Brookens has the advantage of gender, race, and endorsements, and should prevail in this two-way race where her otherwise equally qualified opponent will have to seek an appointment or try again in 2026.
Office #124
Judge Emily Spear will sadly retain her seat on the bench in the face of a creditable challenge by Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Repecka. The Commission on Judicial Performance’s milquetoast reprimand of Spear’s unconscionable misconduct was a lost opportunity to send a much needed message to other errant bench officers.
Office #130
This is the only three-way race in this election cycle where I can confidently predict Leslie Gutierrez to win in the primary, with opponent Darden a distant second place finisher.
Office #135
Steven Yee Mac holds the winning hand in terms of endorsements in this three-way race, but the less worthy Georgia Huerta’s gender, race, and Democratic Party endorsement will likely result in her victory either in the primary or in November.
Office #137
In this four-way race, Tracey Blount could win in the primary given her gender, race, and endorsement advantages over her somewhat unimpressive and lackluster opponents. I predict she will otherwise prevail in a November run-off.
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