attorney16 sources, dated 2023-11-08 – 2026-10-10· last searched 2026-10-28
candidate in the runoff for Los Angeles County Superior Court Office 64
Overview
Synthesized 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session from 15 sources dated 2023-11-08 to 2026-10-10. Machine-written; numbers link to the sources below.
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 13,4,3. LACBA rated her Qualified; it rated Ghobadi Well Qualified 7. She reports 100+ jury trials and appellate reversals and has taught at Southwestern Law School 14,13,4. Her license is active with no discipline listed 15. In 2023 Judge Lynn Olson held her in contempt; a reviewing judge largely upheld it, and the appellate and Supreme Courts declined to intervene 11. She lost a 2024 challenge to Olson 4. Haymon disputes the contempt transcript and attributes adverse treatment to bias 6,4. MetNews, the Daily News and columnist Rafael Perez strongly criticize her temperament and punctuality, citing judges and prosecutors, some unnamed 9,6,5,1,10. Endorsers include Mayor Bass, Supervisor Mitchell, Public Defender García and progressive groups 12. No third-party source favoring her was found.
Record
Admitted to the State Bar April 30, 2001. License active, no discipline listed.15
Orange County PD 2001, LA County PD from 2004; 100+ jury trials from petty theft to homicide and special-circumstances cases.13,14,4
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).11
Adjunct professor at Southwestern Law School; served on the California Young Lawyers Association from 2006.13,4
Stated positions
Too few public defenders and Black women are judges, which she says creates "an appearance of impropriety" (May 2026).6
Favors rehabilitation and diversion "where the law allows" and says DA Gascón "codified what we needed" (May 2026).6
Stresses due process and "an unwavering insistence that the government meet its burden of proof."14
Says she will give everyone in her courtroom "a direct route to justice" (October 2026).4
Praise & support
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 Haymon14,13,6
Backed by prominent officials, the Public Defender, labor and progressive groups. — Rhonda Haymon campaign12
An outspoken advocate for her clients. — Los Angeles Daily News editorial board5
Criticism & concerns
Poor temperament, unpreparedness and chronic tardiness, per judges including Judge Lauren Weis Birnstein (who endorses Ghobadi). — Metropolitan News-Enterprise, quoted judges9,5
Combative, late, and poorly prepared, per an anonymous deputy DA (2023). — Anonymous deputy district attorney (MetNews)10
Accuses others of bias without evidence, disputes an upheld contempt transcript, and signals leniency in ways that may strain judicial ethics. — Rafael Perez (SCNG)6
Faces peer criticism on temperament and professionalism. — Los Angeles Daily News editorial board1
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.6,4,11
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.14,10,9,6
What we could not find
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).
Questions to consider
What do the contempt ruling and the appellate filings themselves say, beyond press accounts?
How would her stated preference for rehabilitation operate within sentencing law?
Is her motion to recuse Judge Birnstein resolved?
What do judges and lawyers who are not tied to the opposing campaign say about her courtroom conduct?
Analysis of their legal writing and words
Written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session from 3 primary texts6,14,13. An evaluative machine reading: check each point against its quoted evidence.
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.
In their words: A veteran public defender nicknamed "Ms. Acquittal" (S3) who says: "I'll be a judge for the people; bringing healing and fairness to my work." (S2) The campaign's themes are healing, transformation and progress (S3).
Articulation: Not enough evidenceConsistency: Not enough evidence
Articulation. 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. The samples agree with one another (defense-minded, rehabilitation, fairness), but they cover only 2026 and include no earlier statements to compare against.
Positions
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.”62026-05-14
“there’s an appearance of impropriety because you don’t have enough people from the community of ethnic descent.”62026-05-14
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”62026-05-14
“State prison, you go to four years, you come back, you’re in worse economic circumstances than you were in the past”62026-05-14
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.”62026-05-14
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.”62026-05-14
“Fairness, due process, and ethical decision-making are not optional; they are essential to public trust.”14
“an unwavering insistence that the government meet its burden of proof”14
Justice as healing and restoring dignity
“Rhonda believes justice should restore dignity and strengthen communities.”14
“healing, transformation, and progress are not campaign slogans”13
Notable rhetoric
States a statistic without a source: "70 to 80% of the bench itself have a prosecutorial background" (S1).
Attributes adverse judicial actions to bias. She says Judge Olson's contempt finding targeted her success, and she contrasted Judge Birnstein's endorsement of a Jewish candidate with herself, "this black woman" (S1); the columnist says she gave no evidence for this.
Calls the published contempt transcript "made up" (S1). Court rulings described in other sources upheld the contempt.
Campaign copy makes unquantified claims, such as "an unprecedented number of not-guilty verdicts" (S2), and names no cases.
Limits: 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.
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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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Ghobadi occupation
Deputy district attorney, County of Los Angeles
Ghobadi LACBA
Well Qualified
Haymon occupation
Deputy public defender, County of Los Angeles
Haymon LACBA
Qualified
Retired Judge Stuart Rice says proper judicial demeanor is what matters most in a candidate.
LAist notes that past candidates have raised fairness concerns about the LACBA process.
Limits: A directory entry, not an assessment. Survey answers, if any, were not captured.
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."
Facts, claims & caveats
LACBA rating
Qualified
Jury trials
more than 100
Years as LA deputy PD
23
Prior race
Lost to Judge Lynn D. Olson, 2024
Haymon contends Judge Olson misused her authority and says the State Bar "reviewed the matter and took no disciplinary action."
Haymon says she will ensure everyone in her courtroom receives "a direct route to justice."
Limits: Brief profile drawn largely from the candidate; it does not detail the contempt ruling or its appeals.
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Ghobadi LACBA
Well Qualified
Haymon LACBA
Qualified
Amador LACBA
Not Qualified
Limits: Primary-era directory entry. Survey answers were not captured.
Los Angeles County Bar Associationbar evaluationNeutral
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Rhonda Haymon rating
Qualified
Maria Ghobadi rating
Well Qualified
Francisco Amador rating
Not Qualified
Issued
2026-04-22 (for the June 2 primary)
The committee says its members are a cross-section of the legal community, including prosecutors and criminal defense attorneys, with extensive courtroom experience.
Limits: Gives the rating only, not the reasons. A private bar association's opinion, issued before the primary.
Date stated in the document. Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Education
Tuskegee University BS, summa cum laude; Willamette University College of Law
Discipline
None, per the campaign
The campaign says she represented people "who were unfairly charged" and fought "when the law was not properly followed."
Limits: Self-presentation. It does not mention the 2023 contempt finding.
Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.
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."
Facts, claims & caveats
Jury trials claimed
over 100
Education
Tuskegee University; Willamette University College of Law
The campaign says her verdicts reflect "an unwavering insistence that the government meet its burden of proof."
Limits: Self-presentation. The acquittal and reversal claims are unquantified, with no cases named.
Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Endorsement
Maria Ghobadi (opponent), Office 64
The editorial board says Haymon "has faced criticism from judicial peers regarding her temperament and professionalism."
Limits: An editorial board's opinion. It summarizes criticism without detailing it; see the linked May pieces.
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Haymon LACBA
Qualified
Ghobadi LACBA
Well Qualified
The board says it recommended one candidate where it found significant differences in experience and courtroom readiness.
Limits: The pick is not recoverable from the text. Ghobadi's campaign lists the paper as an endorser. The page labels Haymon "Deputy District Defender."
Date stated in the document. Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.
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."
Facts, claims & caveats
Endorsement
Maria Ghobadi (opponent)
Haymon LACBA
Qualified
Columnist Rafael Perez, quoted by the board, says Haymon "is very willing to make disturbing accusations about the internal motivations of others."
Judge Lauren Weis Birnstein, quoted via MetNews, says Haymon "is absolutely not suitable for the bench based on her demeanor and her tardiness."
Limits: An opposing editorial. The criticism is secondhand, and Haymon's responses are not given here.
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."
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Notable endorsers
Karen Bass; Holly J. Mitchell; Ricardo D. García; UNITE HERE Local 11; La Defensa; LA Sentinel; Knock LA
Limits: Campaign-maintained list. UNITE HERE Local 11 and the ILWU also appear on Ghobadi's list.
Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.
Los Angeles Daily News (Rafael Perez, SCNG columnist)interviewSupports
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Format
Opinion column built on interview quotes
Haymon LACBA
Qualified
Pending motion
Haymon has a pending motion to recuse Judge Birnstein from her cases (per Perez)
Perez says Haymon implied, without evidence, that Birnstein's endorsement reflected bias in favor of a Jewish candidate.
Perez says an appeals court upheld the contempt finding.
Haymon says she has been "highly successful against the prosecutors" for 26 years.
Limits: An advocacy column. Quotes are excerpts the columnist chose and edited with ellipses, and the characterizations are his.
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Author
Anonymous deputy district attorney
The anonymous writer says Haymon is "constantly late to court, if she shows up at all."
The writer alleges "poor preparation, and poor knowledge of the law."
Limits: Anonymous, uncorroborated, by an opposing-side prosecutor, from 2023. Haymon denies the knowledge-of-law claim (Perez column).
Date stated in the document. Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.
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."
Facts, claims & caveats
Contempt fines
$200 (Count One), $100 (Count Two)
Review
Affirmed by Judge William C. Ryan (May 5); writ denied by Court of Appeal Div. Eight (Aug. 18); review denied by California Supreme Court (Sept. 27)
Judge Ryan said Haymon's statements about another proceeding, after being ordered to stop, demonstrated "an act constituting contempt."
Limits: A news account. Haymon declined comment, and in 2026 told Perez the transcript was inaccurate. One hearing, not her overall record.
Date stated in the document. Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.
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.
Facts, claims & caveats
Bar number
212814
Status
Active
Admitted
2001-04-30
Law school
Willamette University College of Law
Discipline
None listed
Limits: Shows only license and discipline status. Contempt findings are not bar discipline and would not appear here.
Summary written 2026-10-29 in an operator-run Claude session. Link checked 2026-10-28.