January 2025
A Message from Presiding Judge Sergio C. Tapia II

Last month, former Presiding Judge Samantha P. Jessner passed me the gavel, marking the beginning of my two-year term leading the nation’s largest consolidated trial court – the Superior Court of Los Angeles County (Court). This role represents both the greatest challenge of my career and the privilege of a lifetime. Our partnership with the Los Angeles County Bar Association (LACBA) is one we deeply value, and I am honored to use the first Quarterly Update to share a glimpse of the road ahead.  

Meeting People Where They Are

I am proud to share this journey with my friend and colleague, Assistant Presiding Judge Ricardo Ocampo. Notably, I am the first Latino Presiding Judge elected by the majority of the judges of the Superior Court since unification in 2000, as well as the first career public defender in that role. Judge Ocampo also makes history as the Court’s first Asian American Assistant Presiding Judge.

We are honored to work alongside the Court’s Executive Officer/Clerk of Court, David W. Slayton, whose visionary leadership has transformed the Court’s workforce and culture to meet today’s unique challenges. A testament to his steady guidance was his successful oversight of the Court’s response and recovery following last summer’s devastating ransomware attack.

Together, the three of us will continue the example of selfless leadership established by former Presiding Judge Jessner. Her bold and collaborative leadership style set a powerful example of partnership driven by a shared mission to increase access to justice. Judge Jessner extended this spirit of cooperation beyond the Court, forging meaningful relationships with the California State Legislature, labor groups, civic leaders, nonprofits, justice partners and bar associations such as LACBA. It is fitting to note that LACBA itself made history years ago when it named Judge Jessner’s mother, Patricia Phillips, as its first woman president.

In that same spirit of holistic cooperation, my leadership will focus on building on inclusivity and forging stronger ties than ever with the attorneys, mediators, arbitrators, legal aid organizations and more who comprise the beating heart of our judicial system. This collaborative spirit will ultimately benefit the Court and the millions of Los Angeles County residents it serves, providing continuity between administrations while building on the Court’s successes that are focused on increasing transparency, collaboration, and accountability – with the Court’s judicial officers and staff, with the Court’s justice and bar partners, as well as with the community, the media and elected officials.

As Presiding Judge, my commitment to the Court’s four core values – People-Centric, Transformative Innovation, Collaboration, and Data-Informed Decision-Making – will be steadfast, as will my faithfulness to the Court’s overarching service mantra to meet people where they are.

What does it mean to me to “meet people where they are?” 

It means collaborating with justice partners and stakeholders to stand up for more innovative ways of accessing justice – such as the Community Outreach Court on Skid Row or the Shelter, Treatment, and Empowerment Program (STEP) Court in Santa Monica, which enable unhoused individuals to access justice without the burden and indignity of having to physically come to court and go through weapons screening with all their belongings. It means ensuring the Court addresses the digital divide by providing remote access options at sister institutions such as public libraries or our Self-Help Centers using dedicated remote private spaces. It means continuing to lead without ego – fostering a two-way exchange of ideas – internally within our leadership structures and externally with various stakeholders – and arriving at consensus-based solutions. 

The Court must collaborate to build on this notion of meeting people where they are. We will continue to leverage relationships with bar partners such as LACBA to think creatively about leveraging their membership’s expertise and commitment to the law to improve access to justice for all and advocate for policies that best serve court users. In addition, we must continue building relationships with partners in the California State Legislature and local government to ensure they see the Court as a partner in solving issues.

Ultimately, recognizing that almost everyone coming to court is likely dealing with a significant, life-altering event – the Court must make it as easy as possible for people to access justice. 

My experiences as a former public defender, legal services attorney, adjunct professor of law and trial court judge have profoundly shaped my leadership style. These roles have given me a unique perspective on how the Court can address some of society’s most pressing challenges, including income inequality, the growing housing and mental health crises, public safety concerns and the erosion of trust in government institutions.

The Court, as a neutral arbiter, plays a critical preventative role in resolving disputes and mitigating systemic challenges. In Dependency Court, the Court can intervene to address childhood trauma before it leads to involvement in the juvenile justice system. In Family Court, it can fairly resolve conflicts before they escalate to the point of requiring restraining orders. For justice-involved individuals, the Court can connect them with mental health services to prevent their challenges from contributing to more serious offenses.

By embracing its unique position and adopting the principle of “meeting people where they are,” the Court can continue to demonstrate its transformative impact on the lives of the individuals and communities it serves.

I am deeply honored and excited to connect with LACBA members through this platform and to share updates on the many innovations taking shape at the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. Our mission is clear: to expand meaningful access to justice for all and to meet people where they are. Yet, how we achieve this goal is a question we reflect on daily.

These updates will highlight the actions we are taking to break down barriers to justice. I hope they will also serve as the starting point for a dialogue. I invite you to view this as a two-way conversation, and I look forward to exchanging ideas and insights with you over the next two years.