Municipal Court of California, County of Los Angeles
A general-jurisdiction trial court in California.
The Municipal Court of California, County of Los Angeles is a general-jurisdiction state trial court in California, where most civil and criminal cases are first heard. Its judges are chosen by gubernatorial appointment from a nominating commission, followed by retention elections, the method California uses for its judges. This page lists the judges on record for this court from our public-records source, current and former; trial-court coverage is partial.
Roster as of the CourtListener bulk-data snapshot (2026-03-31): recent departures and appointments may not be reflected, so it is shown as “on record,” not “currently serving.”
Judges on record
Former judges
| Judge | Years |
|---|---|
| Rolf Michael Treu | 1999–2000 |
| Mark S. Arnold | 1998–2000 |
| Mark C. Kim | 1998–2000 |
| Melvin Dean Sandvig | 1998–2000 |
| Gary John Ferrari | 1997–1997 |
| Melencio Red Recana | 1996–1997 |
| Barbara R. Johnson | 1993–2000 |
| Nora Margaret Manella | 1990–1992 |
| Victoria Marie Chavez | 1988–1992 |
| Malcolm H. Mackey | 1985–1986 |
| Roger W. Boren | 1984–1985 |
| Elwood G. H. Lui | 1975–1980 |
| Donald R. Wright | 1953–1961 |
Other courts in County, California
County is also served by these courts.
How a judge reaches this court. Judges of the Municipal Court of California, County of Los Angeles are appointed by the governor to 12-year terms and then face yes-or-no retention elections. Selection methods vary by jurisdiction and have changed over time; this page reflects the court’s current method (source: National Center for State Courts). Open any judge to see their tenure and whom they succeeded.
Source: CourtListener / Free Law Project (bulk data); selection method from the National Center for State Courts. Data as of 2026-03-31 (CourtListener bulk snapshot). Verify against the primary source before relying. Not a consumer report (FCRA).