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Diaz, Avanesian Elected LASC Commissioners
By a MetNews Staff Writer
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Erika Diaz, an administrative law judge for the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board, and Los Angeles Deputy City Attorney Aleen Avanesian have been elected commissioners of the Los Angeles Superior Court.
A canvassing committee, comprised of Judges Mark A. Juhas, Sanjay T. Kumar, certified the results of balloting by judges.
The outcome was expected; Diaz and Avanesian were next on the list of eligible applicants, compiled by a selections committee.
Statement of Qualifications
On her statement of qualifications, distributed to judges in February of last year, Diaz said:
“My personal struggles have truly shaped the person I am today and have fueled my drive to pursue a career in law and the judiciary. As an immigrant growing up in a low-income minority community, I faced numerous challenges along the way. However, these very challenges have instilled in me the strength, humility, and empathy that I believe are essential qualities for a Superior Court Judge.”
She continued:
“Being the oldest daughter among five children and the first in my family to attend a four-year university, I understand the significance of breaking barriers and overcoming obstacles. It required immense determination, resilience, and hard work to navigate through unfamiliar territory and pursue my education at UCLA. “While attending law school at Southwestern School of Law. I faced yet another hurdle when I became a parent during my first year. Juggling the responsibilities of full-time work, being a student, and caring for my child demanded exceptional time management skills, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to my dreams.”
Avanesian’s Statement
Avansesian said in her statement:
“Both my professional and personal experiences have led me to pursue a career as a Court Commissioner. For over 19 years, I, have been an attorney in Los Angeles. Being a first-generation Armenian American born and raised in Los Angeles, I have close [ties] to the community that I live and work in. After graduating from UCLA and subsequently Loyola Law School. I began my career as a civil litigator. After two years in private practice, I joined the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, in March 2006, to advance the interests of the City and its people.
“Since then, I have served as a criminal prosecutor. During this [time], I have worked with hundreds of attorneys and appeared before countless judges and commissioners. I resolved thousands of cases, trying numerous bench and jury trials, spending every workday in the courtroom.”
Next on the eligibility list, in order, are Deputy Federal Public Defender Nadine Hettle of the Central District of California, Los Angeles Superior Court research attorney Stephen Morcos, Los Angeles Deputy Public Defender Alexander Sario, private practitioner David Friedman, Los Angeles Deputy County Counsel Naomi Cohen, and Deputy District Attorney Ryan Dibble.
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