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Four to Be Elected to Commissionerships
By a MetNews Staff Writer
Judges of the Los Angeles Superior Court are engaged in choosing four new court commissioners—though the result of the electronic balloting is virtually pre-ordained, with the candidates who are next on the eligibility list, as assembled by a selections committee, are bound to be elected.
It is expected that when votes are certified on March 14, those emerging as victors will be Los Angeles County Deputy Public Defender Melinda B. Porter (formerly Sims), Deputy Los Angeles City Attorney Wendy Shapero, and Senior Deputy Los Angeles County Counsels Caitlin Taylor and Dash Talbot.
There are seven others who are on the eligibility list. However that list is soon to be superseded, according to a knowledgeable source.
The vacancies were created by the retirement of William D. Dodson, the appointment to judgeships of Sonia B. Dujan and James I. Montgomery Jr., and the resignation of Mary K. Melendrez.
Melendrez was elected last Oct. 29. A court spokesperson explained yesterday that Melendrez “chose to resign from her position as Commissioner and return to her prior position as a Mental Health Referee.”
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