Scott Andrew Yang is a Deputy District Attorney, former small business owner and immigrant who truly understands what it means to live the American dream.

Born in Long An, Vietnam, Scott and his family were forced to flee their home country in 1979. One of Yang’s earliest memories is stepping off the plane in Grand Rapids, Michigan and thinking, “Wow… we are finally here in America.”

The family of six had endured two years wandering as refugees, going through four refugee camps across Southeast Asia. When they finally made it to the United States, no one spoke a word of English. And with limited education and no other family in the US, they had to rely on each other, their faith and hard work.

The Yang family settled in the Los Angeles Community of Echo Park in 1984, where Scott attended Betty Plasencia Elementary, Virgil Junior High, U.S. Grant High School and went on to attend UCLA, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree, and Southwestern University School of Law.  During college, Scott was the Director of the UCLA Pre-Law Society and the Co-Founder of UCLA’s Mock Trial Association.  He was also active in Amnesty International.  While attending law school, Yang was a member of the Intercollegiate Trial Advocacy Program and was selected for Moot Court competition team.

Mr. Yang is currently a Deputy District Attorney assigned to the Sex Crimes Division, where he is known for not only his record as a strong criminal prosecutor, but as an advocate for victims and families.    Previously, Scott worked for the Los Angeles County District Attorney in the Juvenile Crimes unit and has prosecuted cases ranging from domestic violence to child abuse, murder and other criminal offenses. 

Before joining the DA’s office, Mr. Yang was an attorney in private practice, specializing in real estate and other civil law matters.  He also has experience running a small business.  For nearly ten years Yang ran the family business – a vocational school in the San Gabriel Valley with over 1,000 graduates.

Yang has provided Victim Advocacy training to the Desert Oasis Center of the Antelope Valley, where volunteers help victims of domestic violence and sex crimes advocate for their rights and vital services.  He has also worked with the Los Angeles County DA’s Law Clerk program to help mentor college and law school students interested in a legal career.

He is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the National Asian Pacific Islander Prosecutor Association. 

Scott and his wife, a restaurateur reside with their children in Los Angeles County.    

RATED "WELL QUALIFIED" by the LA County Bar Association

Endorsed by the LA County Democratic Party

Endorsed by the LA County Federation of Labor

More endorsements and information can be found at www.ScottYangforJudge2020.com.  

He has handled several thousand matters, including numerous jury trials to verdict. He has argued multiple times before the California District Court of Appeals for the Second District. As a Grade IV attorney for the Los Angeles County Indigent Criminal Defense Appointments Program, David represents indigent criminal defendants in the Los Angeles County Superior Courts when the Public Defender (PD) and the Alternative Public Defender (APD) are unavailable or have a conflict. He has been both a professor of criminal justice and served as an associate adjunct professor of law, teaching trial advocacy at Southwestern Law School.

David graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Economics/Political Science. He attended the SCALE (2 year accelerated) law school program at Southwestern Law School.

David was born and raised in the County of Los Angeles. David is married and has two children and two recently rescued labrador retrievers.

David has taught criminal justice at National University and served as an associate adjunct professor of law at Southwestern School of Law. He was excited to present lectures to a law school audience, entitled “confidence in the courtroom” and “trial evidence.” He is the co-founder of the CACJ National Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition (National Mock Trial Law School Competition) and serves as also a volunteer football and baseball coach and is a member of the National Youth Sports Coaches Association and the Vice-President of a local Little League.

A Judge must be fair and impartial.  It is my belief that a Judge also must be prepared, honest, and open.  Access to the courtroom is essential for all litigants.  I will treat EVERYONE will respect and dignity and allow them the opportunity to be heard. 

Referred to as a "Warrior Angel" by the editor of Pasadena Weekly, Caree Annette Harper has successfully served the community as a decorated police officer, a get-out-the-vote advocate, a civil rights attorney and a segment producer at Stevie Wonder's KJLH radio station on The FrontPage show with Dominique DiPrima where she educates and updates the community on various legal, political and community concerns.  Caree has won millions of dollars for clients who have been victims of excessive force.

Caree was born in a small town in Indiana and raised separately by her mother, father and grandmother in Indiana, Wisconsin, New Jersey and California, respectively.   At a young age, Caree's mother moved them to Los Angeles where her mother started a career with a major airline.  Her father retired in the midwest after teaching special needs students for over 30 years.  As the eldest child in the family, Caree grew up as a natural nurturer and protector which accounts for her selection of careers.  Caree started her college studies at San Diego State at age 17, but the call of duty to serve and protect pushed her to enter a Bay Area Police Academy two years later. 

Police Duty                                                                                                                                                                                         

Caree excelled in the academy and was well-liked by her peers. She was elected Vice-President of the class and graduated number one in "weaponless defense".   While serving the community she was honored with a “Lifesaving Medal” after diving into a canal to rescue a submerged driver.  Caree performed lifesaving CPR and the victim was airlifted to safety where he made a full recovery.  Caree was injured in the line of duty and the police department sent her to school to be re-trained in another career.  She completed an ABA certified Paralegal course at Saint Mary's College in Moraga while simultaneously working towards her Bachelors degree. 

Taekwondo Philosophy                                                                                                                                                                         After Caree was injured as a peace officer, she used Taekwondo as physical therapy.  She earned a Black/Red belt and won a Silver medal in the California State Taekwondo Games. Although Black belt testing gave way to law school, Caree still incorporates the philosophical tenets of the practice: courtesy, integrity, perseverance, self-control and indomitable spirit. Practitioners are taught to be a champion of freedom and justice and to help build a more peaceful world.

Caree has spent her life devoted to civic-minded activity.  She has delivered Meals on Wheels, coached Special Olympics and been a mentor to troubled youths.  While in law school, Caree coordinated an event as vice-president of a student organization which featured Dr. Terrence Roberts of the "Little Rock Nine".   She used the theme: "Nine children went in, but nine HEROES emerged..." and the event proved to be a success. 

 Civil Rights Attorney/ Criminal defense attorney

Caree Harper has achieved impressive results as an attorney. She has federal & state court jury trial experience in both criminal cases and civil rights cases. She represents victims and survivors of excessive force who are beaten up or killed on the way to jail.  If they survive the contact she represents them in State criminal court and sues in federal district court if the circumstances merit it.  Ms. Harper has successfully argued for a reversal in a major federal civil rights action before a three judge panel in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. She won Congressional honors and the Shirley Fields Volunteer Award for dedicating 50 percent of her time to pro bono legal services to underserved communities.

In 2008, Caree was one of hundreds of California attorneys dispatched to various battleground states in the country to oversee the polls. She went to Nevada for the historic election of President Barack Obama and was directly responsible for the calculation of dozens of ballots of voters who were initially turned away for unconstitutional reasons. 

In 2012, she actively registered voters. That same year she represented the family of Kendrec McDade, an unarmed 19 year old shot and killed by Pasadena PD, in which the City paid over million dollars to settle the case.

 In 2014, a grandmother, Marlene Pinnock, was beaten by a California Highway Patrol officer near the 10 freeway.  A videotape of the incident was captured by a passing motorist. Ms. Harper obtained a $1.5 million settlement for her client- one of the largest settlements in C.H.P. history.  Precedent was also set in the C.H.P. beating case when the terms of the officers' termination was part of the Settlement Agreement.

*One unknown fact about Caree and the freeway beating case is that after receiving her fees in that case in December 2014, Caree donated 10 percent of her earnings to churches locally and throughtout the country who have programs to help homeless/ houseless people, suicidal people and former inmates re-entering society.  This candidate with a heart of gold  gives new meaning to being a "people person".

In another CHP excessive force case, Ms. Harper's cross-examination of the lead defendant led to a $500,000.00 jury award (Mariscal v. Ledesma) several years earlier.

In 2016, Caree successfully defended Black Lives Matter protesters pro bono.  Although their actions were captured by major TV stations- there were no convictions. 

 In 2018, Caree obtained $1.5 million for the family of Reginald Thomas who was beaten and tased to death by Pasadena Police Department.

 Community Educator & Radio Segment Producer

For the last couple years, Caree has been educating the community on legal updates and noteworthy community concerns through a number of outlets but most notably on the Front Page Show with Dominique DiPrima on Stevie Wonder's KJLH 102.3 FM radio station. She has spent substantial time during the past couple years as a segment producer and she provides helpful voter information and educates the listeners on topical issues both through regular in studio on-air appearances and through research for regular shows.  Caree arranged and produced the "Getting to Know the Judges" segments with the judicial candidates in the prior election and the candidates for the upcoming District Attorney race in 2020.  Caree was also honored to participate with the ACLU in educating teenagers on the Bill of Rights this fall.  She does this because she believes it is important for the community to be as educated as possible about the criminal justice and legal system that so greatly impacts their lives.   

She is now running for Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Seat 162 to serve the community in a different capacity.

Judicial Candidates are suppose to be "apolitical".  Caree follows the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Caree was mysteriously hit by a pickup truck as a pedestrian during the criminal trial of a man beaten by police.  If she did not return to complete the trial the diverse jury panel would be lost.  After a couple days, her client and his brother carried her to court and they were victorious.

Caree's sacrifices for her clients does not end there.  Each time she places her hand on the Bible she takes that oath very seriously and fulfills it to the fullest extent.