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Ocampo Chosen as L.A. Superior Court’s Assistant Presiding Judge for 2025/2026
He Is Presumptive Heir to Post of Presiding Judge Following Two-Year Term of Now-Assistant P.J. Sergio C. Tapia II
By a MetNews Staff Writer
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SERGIO C. TAPIA II presiding judge-elect |
RICARDO OCAMPO assistant presiding judge-elect |
Judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court have elected Ricardo Ocampo to serve as assistant presiding judge in 2025 and 2026, defeating Judge Susan Bryant-Deason in a contest for the post.
If tradition is followed, he will be elected, without opposition, as presiding judge for 2027 and 2028.
In accordance with that tradition, Assistant Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II was the sole candidate for the position of 2025/2026 presiding judge.
Ocampo has been supervising judge of the court’s Criminal Division this year and last year.
The Superior Court said in its announcement yesterday of the election results:
“Presiding Judge-Elect Tapia will become the first Presiding Judge of Latino heritage elected by all the judges of the consolidated Superior Court since trial court unification in 2000, while Assistant Presiding Judge-elect Ocampo will be the first Asian American in the Court’s history to serve as Assistant Presiding Judge.”
Tapia Comments
Tapia is quoted as saying:
“I am humbled and deeply grateful to have been elected by my judicial colleagues as the next Presiding Judge of the largest trial court in the nation. I am especially eager to build upon the solid foundation established by Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner, beside whom I’ve served as the Assistant Presiding Judge with honor since 2023.
“Presiding Judge Jessner has exemplified principled, courageous and empathetic leadership throughout her tenure, redefining the principles of judicial leadership and inspiring us all. I am committed to building on her legacy and ensuring that our Court remains a model of innovation and excellence for trial courts nationwide.”
Ocampo Quoted
Ocampo remarked:
“I am deeply honored to have been chosen by my colleagues as the Court’s next Assistant Presiding Judge. I look forward to working with Presiding Judge-Elect Tapia and the entire bench to ensure that our Court continues to serve the people of Los Angeles County with fairness.”
Tapia, who earned his law degree at the University of Iowa, was appointed to the court in 2014 by then-Gov. Jerry Brown and Ocampo, whose law degree is from Southwestern, was placed on the bench by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008.
While Tapia was a deputy public defender and deputy alternate public defender prior to his bench service, Ocampo was a deputy district attorney.
Initially, Ocampo was in an election contest against then-Superior Court Judge Michelle Williams Court who was supervising judge of the Civil Division. But Williams dropped out after being nominated by President Joe Biden as a judge of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (winning confirmation by the U.S. Senate on Sept. 18).
Bryant-Deason, who was elected as a judge in 1994, entered the race late.
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