I obtained my J.D. at the University of California, Davis, King Hall School of Law. While at Davis, I was an extern at Legal Services of Northern California representing indigent clients with matters like unlawful evictions and obtaining benefits.  I finished my last year of courses at UCLA, and during that time I interned at the Screen Actors Guild, then clerked at the District Attorney's office before passing the bar. 

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My first position was with a small firm that handled union matters, with the bulk of my work focused on matters involving individual employees in administrative matters like hearings at the Civil Service Commission, internal investigations, and counsel during homicide investigations. I worked privately for a few years independantly before getting hired by Los Angeles County. 

When I started my career at the Los Angeles Public Defender’s office as a Deputy Public Defender, I was pregnant with my second child.  I hit the ground running as a trial attorney handling jury trials, obtaining experience in felonies, misdemeanors, and almost three years in juvenile courts solely representing children. I continue to work in felony trials with adults presently. 

Although I do have plenty of trial experience and work in court every day, I also focus on alternatives to incarceration in cases that qualify.  I have obtained services for intellectually disabled clients, rehabilitation for addiction, and appoint social workers and psychologists.  This makes me unique in that I have direct experience in finding solutions that prevent crime from recurring and getting people back on track.  These individuals can become contributing members to their communities, society, and their families, not repeat offenders- which benefits everyone.

This background experience has not been representated before through the elections, and belongs on the bench. I intend to be one of the first judges elected to offer it. 

I am also the treasurer of the Public Defender's Association, actively involved in the Public Defender's Union, Local 148, and am involved in community efforts to address the issues that drive a lot of people into the criminal justice system.

I also regularly volunteer with my family and believe in the power of community and public service.  

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This election is historic. In over 20 years, no Deputy Public Defender has ever won a judicial office. 79% of elected judge postions have gone to prosecutors, the rest were already judicial in some form or another (administrative judges, commissioners, etc.). 

In 2020, 100% of elected judges were prosecutors.  

I am proud to run alongside the other Deputy Public Defenders running in other seats. I filed to run before Ketanji Brown Jackson was nominated and confirmed to the Supreme court, however, she illustrated a need for diversity of thought and experience on the bench at the federal level.  We deserve that in local courts as well.

We need the perspectives of lawyers with all different backgrounds, particularly those who work directly with communities of people who are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. I believe that having this diversity in background experience is necessary to ensure a fair, impartial, and unbiased judiciary. 

Laura Coates said; "Public Defenders are not soft on crime.  They are tough on injustice.  That should be the philosphy of every judge."  This really resonated with me and identifies why I wanted to run.  I hope to be one of the first deputy public defenders elected in Los Angeles County because the experience I have had has been ignored in judicial elections, but is incredibly valuable and would offer much needed diversity of experience that would translate well on the bench. 

As a mother of two children and a career as a deputy public defender, I would bring a fresh perspective to judicial decision making. I am committed to ensuring fairness and justice for all, without bias based on income or education. I will treat all parties, victims, witnesses, and court staff with dignity & respect and promote equality under the law from the bench. 

I am a unique candidate in that I have experience finding solutions, using current laws to promote public safety through preventative measures in addition to trial work. I have extensive experience working with social workers, finding mental health and rehabilitation programs, tackling the roadblocks that come with poverty, and fighting for access to services so my clients could get back on track and avoid the revolving door of prison.  This benefits individuals, obviously, but also their families and the community as a whole.  

A judicial officer must stay current on the latest changes in the law, including an understanding of how the law has historically been used to exclude persons through systemic injustice and classism. I am committed to using my position on the bench to embrace current and new laws seeking to make the judicial system more fair and equitable, just as the legislature intended.

I am proud of serving the community in my career and I look forward to serving the public in this new role as a judge with an informed and substantive foundation.

Ms. Baron is a child molestation prosecutor for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. She successfully prosecuted hundreds of cases involving homicide, the sexual abuse of children, rape, family violence, elder abuse, and stalking.

In her 14-year career for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Ms. Baron has been recognized by her peers, supervisors, and the media for her skill, empathy, victim advocacy, and public service. She is a trial attorney who has successfully tried misdemeanor and felony cases in jury trial. Ms. Baron has evaluated and handled complex cases and prepared witnesses including the elderly and minor children. Ms. Baron’s commitment to the people of Los Angeles County – as well as her strong principles of justice and advocacy – fueled her decision to run for office. As a Superior Court Judge in Los Angeles County, Ms. Baron will continue to represent people fairly, ethically and with compassion. She has received awards for her work on child molestation prosecutions, and has given presentations at collaborative Homicide Review Boards based off the cases she has worked on. Ms. Baron has also given trainings to other  deputy district attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and been a guest speaker at Southwestern Law School.

Ms. Baron regularly volunteers her time in community service, such as her involvement with Project LEAD and Crime Survivors. In Project LEAD, she teaches fifth-grade students practical skills for conflict resolution and fosters lifelong respect for education. Ms. Baron is a Council Member for Crime Survivors. She assists this organization in helping those who have been victimized and need resources so they can find safety and healing by providing meals, therapy resources, financial assistance, self defense classes, outreach programs, and safe places to relocate. 

Ms. Baron worked in London, England for The Howard League for Penal Reform. This program inside the prison taught graphic design skills to the participants using state of the art equipment and paid them market wage. When their sentence ended, they had a free-lance skill to use, a trust account of money to begin their business, and a new life ahead of them. The Howard League also did work in schools teaching children about crime and citizenship, as well as being involved in Children and Women’s Rights legislation. Ms. Baron’s commitment to community service reaches as far back as her teenage years when she began volunteering for service organizations helping the elderly and homeless.

Ms. Baron is an expert in Criminal Law, and has also worked in Construction Defect Law, Insurance Law and International Law.