# Rhonda A. Haymon *legal · Superior Court Judge, Office 64 · attorney* — November 3, 2026 General Election (2026-11-03), Los Angeles County, California Research pack generated 2026-10-30T23:52:30+00:00 by ballotscope. Summaries are LLM-generated from the linked originals and may contain errors; check the originals before relying on anything. Sources span 2023-11-08 to 2026-10-10. ## Overview (as of 2026-10-29, from 15 sources) Rhonda A. Haymon, an LA County deputy public defender since 2004 (Orange County PD from 2001), faces deputy DA Maria Ghobadi in the Office 64 runoff [Rhonda Haymon for Judge: Meet Rhonda; Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race; Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the Nov. 3 election and why it matters]. LACBA rated her Qualified; it rated Ghobadi Well Qualified [LACBA Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee: Full 2026 report]. She reports 100+ jury trials and appellate reversals and has taught at Southwestern Law School [Rhonda Haymon for Judge (campaign website); Rhonda Haymon for Judge: Meet Rhonda; Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race]. Her license is active with no discipline listed [State Bar of California attorney profile: Rhonda A. Haymon (#212814)]. In 2023 Judge Lynn Olson held her in contempt; a reviewing judge largely upheld it, and the appellate and Supreme Courts declined to intervene [Challenger Haymon Was Held in Contempt by Judge Olson]. She lost a 2024 challenge to Olson [Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race]. Haymon disputes the contempt transcript and attributes adverse treatment to bias [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates); Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race]. MetNews, the Daily News and columnist Rafael Perez strongly criticize her temperament and punctuality, citing judges and prosecutors, some unnamed [Maria Ghobadi: Los Angeles Superior Court, Office No. 64; Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates); Endorsement: Maria Ghobadi for Superior Court Office No. 64; Confused by the judicial races? Here are our LA County Superior Court endorsements; In My Opinion: Haymon Is Constantly Late, Combative, Unprofessional (anonymous deputy DA, 2023)]. Endorsers include Mayor Bass, Supervisor Mitchell, Public Defender García and progressive groups [Rhonda Haymon for Judge: endorsements]. No third-party source favoring her was found. ### Record highlights - Admitted to the State Bar April 30, 2001. License active, no discipline listed. [State Bar of California attorney profile: Rhonda A. Haymon (#212814)] - Orange County PD 2001, LA County PD from 2004; 100+ jury trials from petty theft to homicide and special-circumstances cases. [Rhonda Haymon for Judge: Meet Rhonda; Rhonda Haymon for Judge (campaign website); Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race] - Held in contempt by Judge Lynn Olson on Feb. 2, 2023 ($200 and $100 fines). Judge William C. Ryan upheld part of one count and all of the other (May 5); the Court of Appeal denied her writ (Aug. 18); the California Supreme Court denied review (Sept. 27). [Challenger Haymon Was Held in Contempt by Judge Olson] - Lost a 2024 election challenge to Judge Olson. [Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race] - Rated Qualified by LACBA (April 22, 2026). [LACBA Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee: Full 2026 report] - Adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School; served on the California Young Lawyers Association from 2006. [Rhonda Haymon for Judge: Meet Rhonda; Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race] ### Stated positions - Too few public defenders and Black women are judges, which she says creates "an appearance of impropriety" (May 2026). [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] - Favors rehabilitation and diversion "where the law allows" and says DA Gascón "codified what we needed" (May 2026). [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] - Stresses due process and "an unwavering insistence that the government meet its burden of proof." [Rhonda Haymon for Judge (campaign website)] - Says she will give everyone in her courtroom "a direct route to justice" (October 2026). [Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race] ### Where sources disagree - The contempt: Haymon says Olson misused her authority, the transcript was "made up," and the State Bar took no action. MetNews reports that the contempt was upheld on review and prints the transcript. [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates); Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race; Challenger Haymon Was Held in Contempt by Judge Olson] - Her preparation: the campaign stresses "careful study" and preparation, while critics allege unpreparedness and incomplete files. Haymon rejects the criticism of her knowledge of the law. [Rhonda Haymon for Judge (campaign website); In My Opinion: Haymon Is Constantly Late, Combative, Unprofessional (anonymous deputy DA, 2023); Maria Ghobadi: Los Angeles Superior Court, Office No. 64; Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] ### Gaps - No third-party source favoring her (such as the LA Sentinel or Knock LA endorsement pieces her site lists) was found. - No questionnaire answers in her own name (LAist's survey answers were not captured), and no debate or forum record. - No case records showing the acquittals or appellate reversals she cites; the contempt record is known only through MetNews. - No campaign-finance data. - The LACBA report gives no reasons for its rating. The Daily Journal ratings story was blocked (HTTP 403). ### Arguments for / praise - Long trial record and appellate wins as a defense lawyer, bringing a defense perspective to a bench she says is mostly former prosecutors. — *Rhonda Haymon campaign, Rhonda Haymon* [Rhonda Haymon for Judge (campaign website); Rhonda Haymon for Judge: Meet Rhonda; Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] - Backed by prominent officials, the Public Defender, labor and progressive groups. — *Rhonda Haymon campaign* [Rhonda Haymon for Judge: endorsements] - An outspoken advocate for her clients. — *Los Angeles Daily News editorial board* [Endorsement: Maria Ghobadi for Superior Court Office No. 64] ### Arguments against / criticism - Poor temperament, unpreparedness and chronic tardiness, per judges including Judge Lauren Weis Birnstein (who endorses Ghobadi). — *Metropolitan News-Enterprise, quoted judges* [Maria Ghobadi: Los Angeles Superior Court, Office No. 64; Endorsement: Maria Ghobadi for Superior Court Office No. 64] - Combative, late, and poorly prepared, per an anonymous deputy DA (2023). — *Anonymous deputy district attorney (MetNews)* [In My Opinion: Haymon Is Constantly Late, Combative, Unprofessional (anonymous deputy DA, 2023)] - Accuses others of bias without evidence, disputes an upheld contempt transcript, and signals leniency in ways that may strain judicial ethics. — *Rafael Perez (SCNG)* [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] - Faces peer criticism on temperament and professionalism. — *Los Angeles Daily News editorial board* [Confused by the judicial races? Here are our LA County Superior Court endorsements] ## Analysis of their own words (as of 2026-10-29) Coverage: Three samples: an SCNG opinion column (2026-05-14) quoting her interview answers, in excerpts the columnist edited (S1), and two undated campaign web pages written mostly in the third person, the homepage and a bio (S2, S3). Missing: questionnaire answers in her own name, debate or forum transcripts, briefs, oral arguments, and any writing on legal questions. The unscripted material is several excerpted passages. No evidence of interpretive method or views on precedent. As expressed, her approach favors rehabilitation and diversion "where the law allows" over incarceration (S1), insists that the government meet its burden of proof (S2), and treats a bench with more public defenders and Black women as a matter of legitimacy (S1). She voiced support for DA Gascón's policies (S1). On criminal sentencing these are reform-oriented positions, stated as limited by law. Articulation: **insufficient_evidence**. The prepared texts state themes clearly but in general terms, and the homepage has garbled sentences ("With her to justice and fairness, she ensure...", S2). The unscripted excerpts (S1) are direct, specific and responsive, but they include a figure given without a source ("70 to 80% of the bench") and loose phrasing ("lock ourselves into rehabilitation"). These are a few edited passages, too few to rate. Consistency: **insufficient_evidence**. The samples agree with one another (defense-minded, rehabilitation, fairness), but they cover only 2026 and include no earlier statements to compare against. - Composition of the bench: Too few public defenders and Black women are judges, which she says creates an appearance of impropriety. - "Public defenders make up a single-digit number in the judiciary as we speak in Los Angeles County." [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] (2026-05-14) - "there’s an appearance of impropriety because you don’t have enough people from the community of ethnic descent." [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] (2026-05-14) - Sentencing and incarceration: Favors rehabilitation and diversion, including for people with mental illness, within legal limits. - "We need to move forward and lock ourselves into rehabilitation where the law allows" [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] (2026-05-14) - "State prison, you go to four years, you come back, you’re in worse economic circumstances than you were in the past" [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] (2026-05-14) - DA Gascón's policies: Says Gascón codified the restorative approach she had already practiced, and that COVID, not his policies, drove changes in crime. - "So when Gascon came on, he kind of codified what we needed." [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] (2026-05-14) - Her 2023 contempt finding: Disputes it and says the transcript was inaccurate. - "I don’t believe I did and the transcript didn’t properly reflect what was happening." [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] (2026-05-14) - "They made that transcript up." [Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates)] (2026-05-14) Limitations: Two of the three samples are campaign copy, and the third is an opposing advocate's selection of her words. No legal writing was available, so her legal reasoning cannot be assessed. ## Timeline (newest first) - **2026-10-10** — Published: Confused by the judicial races? Here are our LA County Superior Court endorsements (Los Angeles Daily News) - **2026-10-09** — Daily News editorial board restated its endorsement of Haymon's opponent (Los Angeles Daily News) - **2026-10-09** — Published: 2026 General Election: Recommendations for L.A. County Superior Court Judges (Colorado Boulevard) - **2026-10-02** — Published: Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the Nov. 3 election and why it matters (LAist) - **2026-10-01** — Published: Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race (Los Angeles Times) - **2026-05-17** — Published: Endorsement: Maria Ghobadi for Superior Court Office No. 64 (Los Angeles Daily News) - **2026-05-17** — Daily News editorial board endorsed Haymon's opponent (Los Angeles Daily News) - **2026-05-14** — Published: Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates) (Los Angeles Daily News (Rafael Perez, SCNG columnist)) - **2026-05-14** — Perez column on Office 64 published (Los Angeles Daily News (Rafael Perez, SCNG columnist)) - **2026-04-22** — Published: LACBA Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee: Full 2026 report (Los Angeles County Bar Association) - **2026-04-22** — LACBA JEEC rated Rhonda Haymon Qualified for Office 64 (Los Angeles County Bar Association) - **2026-04-17** — Published: LAist guide to the 2026 primary L.A. Superior Court Judge races (LAist) - **2026-03-03** — Published: Maria Ghobadi: Los Angeles Superior Court, Office No. 64 (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2026-03-03** — MetNews endorsed Haymon's opponent and criticized Haymon (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2024** — Haymon lost her challenge to Judge Lynn D. Olson (Los Angeles Times) - **2023-11-09** — Published: In My Opinion: Haymon Is Constantly Late, Combative, Unprofessional (anonymous deputy DA, 2023) (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2023-11-09** — Anonymous DDA op-ed criticizing Haymon published (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2023-11-08** — Published: Challenger Haymon Was Held in Contempt by Judge Olson (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2023-09-27** — California Supreme Court denied review (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2023-08-18** — Court of Appeal denied Haymon's writ petition (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2023-05-05** — Judge Ryan upheld the contempt in part (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2023-02-02** — Judge Olson held Haymon in contempt at a preliminary hearing (Metropolitan News-Enterprise) - **2006** — Haymon elected to the California Young Lawyers Association (Rhonda Haymon campaign) - **2004** — Haymon joined the LA County Public Defender's Office (Rhonda Haymon campaign) - **2001-04-30** — Haymon admitted to the State Bar of California (State Bar of California) - **2001** — Haymon became an attorney (Los Angeles Times) - **2001** — Haymon began at the Orange County Public Defender's Office (Rhonda Haymon campaign) ## Sources ### Confused by the judicial races? Here are our LA County Superior Court endorsements - Los Angeles Daily News · endorsement · published 2026-10-10 · stance: support - The Daily News (SCNG) editorial board's general-election list endorses Ghobadi over Haymon for Office 64 and says Haymon, rated Qualified, "has faced criticism from judicial peers regarding her temperament and professionalism." - Endorses Haymon's opponent. - Says Haymon presents "significant concerns" about temperament and professionalism. - Reference: May 17 endorsement - Reference: Rafael Perez column ### 2026 General Election: Recommendations for L.A. County Superior Court Judges - Colorado Boulevard · endorsement · published 2026-10-09 · stance: neutral - Colorado Boulevard's editorial board lists the Office 64 candidates with their LACBA ratings (Haymon Qualified, Ghobadi Well Qualified). It marks its picks with check marks, which did not survive in the stored text, so the pick cannot be read here. - Lists Haymon (Qualified) and Ghobadi (Well Qualified). - Its recommendation, shown by check marks, is not in the captured text. ### Los Angeles County Superior Court Judges: Who's running in the Nov. 3 election and why it matters - LAist · voter guide · published 2026-10-02 · stance: neutral - LAist's general-election judge guide lists Office 64 as Rhonda A. Haymon, deputy public defender (LACBA: Qualified), vs. Maria Ghobadi, deputy district attorney (LACBA: Well Qualified), with links to campaign sites, endorsement lists and State Bar profiles. The guide says it includes candidates' survey answers, but none for Office 64 appear in the captured text. - Ghobadi: deputy district attorney, LA County; LACBA Well Qualified. - Haymon: deputy public defender, LA County; LACBA Qualified. - Retired Judge Stuart Rice advises voters to weigh LACBA ratings, endorsements, experience and campaign websites. - Reference: LACBA judicial election ratings - Reference: Haymon campaign site - Reference: Haymon State Bar profile - Reference: Ghobadi campaign site - Reference: Ghobadi State Bar profile ### Your guide to the L.A. County Superior Court judge elections: Every competitive race - Los Angeles Times · voter guide · published 2026-10-01 · stance: neutral - LA Times profile of the Office 64 runoff. Haymon, rated Qualified, became an attorney in 2001 and has spent 23 years as an LA County deputy public defender, trying more than 100 jury trials. She lost a 2024 challenge to Judge Lynn D. Olson, who had earlier held her in contempt. Haymon says Olson misused her authority and that the State Bar took no disciplinary action. - Orange County PD, then LA County PD (23 years); cases from petty theft to homicide and special circumstances. - 100+ jury trials; restorative-justice drug court; consulted for the PD accountability unit on police-misconduct cases; six years teaching at Southwestern Law School. - Lost 2024 race to Judge Lynn D. Olson, who had held her in contempt. - Introduces herself in a campaign video as "your dream judge." - Reference: LACBA ratings and full report ### Endorsement: Maria Ghobadi for Superior Court Office No. 64 - Los Angeles Daily News · endorsement · published 2026-05-17 · stance: support - The Daily News editorial board endorses Ghobadi and argues against Haymon, citing columnist Rafael Perez's account of her interview, the board's own talks with public defenders and prosecutors, and judges' statements to MetNews, including Judge Lauren Weis Birnstein's view that Haymon is unsuitable for the bench. - Endorses Haymon's opponent. - Says the board's conversations with prosecutors and public defenders echo the criticism of Haymon. - Concedes Haymon "may be an outspoken advocate for her clients." - Reference: Rafael Perez column - Reference: MetNews endorsement with judges' statements ### Rafael Perez: Maria Ghobadi is the responsible choice for judicial office No. 64 (column with interview quotes from both candidates) - Los Angeles Daily News (Rafael Perez, SCNG columnist) · interview · published 2026-05-14 · stance: support - SCNG columnist Rafael Perez interviews both candidates and argues against Haymon. He quotes her on too few public defenders and Black women on the bench, defending DA Gascón's policies, and favoring rehabilitation and diversion. She rejects criticism of her knowledge of the law, says Judge Birnstein is biased against her, and says the contempt transcript was "made up." - Haymon: "70 to 80% of the bench" has a prosecutorial background; too few public defenders and Black women. - Defends Gascón; attributes the rise in smash-and-grab thefts partly to COVID's economic effects. - Favors rehabilitation and diversion "where the law allows." - Disputes the Olson contempt transcript and alleges bias by Judges Olson and Birnstein. - Perez says she appeared to signal leniency, which he suggests could be improper under the judicial ethics code. - Reference: MetNews assessment - Reference: MetNews 2023 column on Haymon - Reference: MetNews 2023 transcript article ### LACBA Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee: Full 2026 report - Los Angeles County Bar Association · bar evaluation · published 2026-04-22 · stance: neutral - LACBA's Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee final 2026 report rates Rhonda Haymon "Qualified" for Office 64; Maria Ghobadi is rated "Well Qualified" and Francisco Amador "Not Qualified." The report lists ratings only, with no reasons for individual candidates. - Rhonda Haymon: Qualified. - Maria Ghobadi: Well Qualified; Francisco Amador: Not Qualified. - Scale: Exceptionally Well Qualified, Well Qualified, Qualified, Not Qualified. - The 39-member committee says it interviews candidates and contacts their references. ### LAist guide to the 2026 primary L.A. Superior Court Judge races - LAist · voter guide · published 2026-04-17 · stance: neutral - LAist's primary guide lists three Office 64 candidates: Francisco Amador (attorney; LACBA Not Qualified), Maria Ghobadi (deputy DA; Well Qualified) and Rhonda A. Haymon (deputy public defender; Qualified). It notes that Amador did not answer LAist's survey; no answers from Ghobadi or Haymon appear in the captured text. - Three candidates in the primary: Amador, Ghobadi, Haymon. - LACBA ratings: Amador Not Qualified, Ghobadi Well Qualified, Haymon Qualified. - Reference: Ghobadi campaign site - Reference: Haymon campaign site - Reference: Haymon endorsements - Reference: LACBA ratings ### Maria Ghobadi: Los Angeles Superior Court, Office No. 64 - Metropolitan News-Enterprise · endorsement · published 2026-03-03 · stance: support - The Metropolitan News-Enterprise endorses Ghobadi and attacks Haymon, quoting judges who call her unprepared and of poor temperament, including Judge Lauren Weis Birnstein (on demeanor and tardiness), and predicting she would be removed if elected. It ties her 2024 race to Judge Olson's contempt finding. - Opposes Haymon in sharp terms (says she was held in contempt for acting "like a sassy brat"). - Quotes named and unnamed judges criticizing her temperament, preparation and punctuality. - Predicts that if elected she "would inevitably be removed by the Commission on Judicial Performance." ### In My Opinion: Haymon Is Constantly Late, Combative, Unprofessional (anonymous deputy DA, 2023) - Metropolitan News-Enterprise · news · published 2023-11-09 · stance: oppose - An anonymous deputy district attorney's MetNews opinion piece says Haymon is chronically late, combative toward judges and prosecutors, poorly prepared, and lets cases age, and that she accuses judges of race-based discrimination when admonished. - Alleges chronic tardiness and incomplete case files. - Alleges she threatened a prosecutor who declined to dismiss a case. - Calls the 2024 challenge to Judge Olson revenge. ### Challenger Haymon Was Held in Contempt by Judge Olson - Metropolitan News-Enterprise · news · published 2023-11-08 · stance: neutral - MetNews reports that Judge Lynn D. Olson held Haymon in contempt at a Feb. 2, 2023 preliminary hearing ($200 and $100 fines). Judge William C. Ryan upheld one ground of each count, the Court of Appeal denied her writ petition, and the state Supreme Court denied review. The article prints the transcript, in which Haymon accuses the court of treating her differently. - Count One (references to unrelated proceedings): $200; Count Two (continual interruption): $100. - Judge Ryan found part of Count One unsupported but upheld the rest. - Transcript: Haymon says the court holds her in contempt "because you don't like me" and because she is "a zealous advocate." ### Rhonda Haymon for Judge: endorsements - Rhonda Haymon campaign · endorsement · published undated · stance: support - Haymon's endorsement page lists Mayor Karen Bass, Supervisor Holly Mitchell, Public Defender Ricardo D. García, Assemblymember Sade Elhawary, retired Sen. Steven Bradford, Judges Holly Hancock and Ericka Wiley, UNITE HERE Local 11, the ILWU, Western States Carpenters, La Defensa, Knock LA, the LA Sentinel, and many Democratic clubs. Rep. Maxine Waters is listed as recommending her. - Elected officials: Bass, Mitchell, Elhawary, Bradford (ret.), Mayors Cerda (Gardena) and Butts (Inglewood). - Public Defender Ricardo D. García. - Labor: UNITE HERE 11, ILWU, LiUNA 1309, Western States Carpenters. - Progressive and Black political groups: La Defensa, New Frontier Democratic Club, LAAAWPAC, Americans for Democratic Action. ### Rhonda Haymon for Judge: Meet Rhonda - Rhonda Haymon campaign · position statement · published undated · stance: support - Campaign biography: Haymon has been a public defender since 2001 (Orange County, then LA County from 2004), representing adults and juveniles from petty theft to homicide, and is nicknamed "Ms. Acquittal." She has taught criminal procedure at Southwestern Law School and served on the California Young Lawyers Association from 2006. The page says the State Bar has never disciplined her. - OC PD 2001; LA County PD 2004 onward. - Says she secured reversals on appeal. - Adjunct professor, Southwestern Law School; licensed in California and Oregon. - Elected to the California Young Lawyers Association in 2006 and served four years. ### Rhonda Haymon for Judge (campaign website) - Rhonda Haymon campaign · position statement · published undated · stance: support - Haymon's campaign homepage ("Let The Healing Begin!") presents her as a veteran defense attorney with 26+ years at the Orange County and LA County public defender offices. It claims over 100 jury trials, "an unprecedented number of not-guilty verdicts," and appellate reversals, and states principles of fairness, due process and restorative dignity. - 100+ felony and misdemeanor jury trials, including homicide. - Claims many acquittals and appellate reversals (no cases named). - Principles: "Justice with Integrity," "Courageous and Prepared Leadership," "Opportunity, Dignity, and Lasting Impact." - Quote: "I'll be a judge for the people; bringing healing and fairness to my work." ### State Bar of California attorney profile: Rhonda A. Haymon (#212814) - State Bar of California · other · published undated · stance: not_applicable - State Bar license record for Rhonda A. Haymon (#212814): active, admitted April 30, 2001, law school Willamette (Salem, Ore.), address LA County Public Defender's Office. No discipline or administrative actions listed. - Active license; admitted 2001-04-30. - No disciplinary history shown. ### County bar groups issue mixed ratings on judicial candidates - Daily Journal · news · published undated · stance: neutral - ## Suggested use Ask me neutral questions about this subject using the material above. Distinguish what the sources say from your own background knowledge, cite the source titles you rely on, and say when information may be out of date given the dates shown.