LA Times Endorses David Berger for Judge

I am delighted, immensely proud, and honored to announce that the Los Angeles Times has endorsed David Berger for Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 80, saying I am "Smart, and respected by judges, defense lawyers and fellow prosecutors, Berger is the best of the three candidates for this seat." Thank you to the LA Times Editorial Board for trusting me with your endorsement.

Los Angeles Times, Friday, February 21, 2020

For the 23 Judicial Candidates in the 2020 primary, the LA Times endorsed 9 after conducting extensive research and in-person interviews with all candidates. The Times Editorial Board explained their process saying “The process actually starts about two months before ballots are mailed, with the board inviting candidates to come in for interviews. Occasionally, a candidate will refuse to sit down with the board, but they’re all invited.” The full explanation of their endorsement process can be read at the LA Times by clicking here. 

The LA Times Editorial Board concluded “Berger is the best choice,” a view shared by others who have exclusively endorsed me including the Metropolitan News-Enterprise, saying: "Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David A. Berger looms as the outstanding contender in this race. He is highly articulate, skilled at analysis, composed, decisive, and knows what he’s doing.” 

While the Times did not comment extensively on either of my opponents, the Met News did. As to Nick Rini the Met News said “his performance would fall short of Berger’s. One judge advises:“Nick Rini has a difficult personality, to be charitable. He is quick to anger, slow to cool off, and can be vindictive towards criminal defense attorneys. He appears to enjoy controlling others, keeping attorneys unnecessarily waiting for his attention. His advocacy/legal skills are questionable, rarely researching the law, and relying more on bombast and repetition than calm, sound legal reasoning.”

The Met News concluded “From what we have been able to ascertain, Berger enjoys respect among deputies in the Public Defender’s Office, being seen as fair, courteous, reasonable and ethical, while Rini is viewed as dishonest, unpleasant, lazy, and hot-headed.”

As to Klint McKay, the Met News seemed concerned by McKay’s record of “gaffes” and “blunders” when he initially ran against a newly appointed judge, did not appear to understand election law, and spoke on his website of seeking “appointment” by voters, rather than election. The Met News opined that if "McKay could not be careful pursuing his own interests, how can it be expected that he will be careful and attentive to the interests of others." 

Given the analysis by the Met News, it is easy to see why they concluded “We wholeheartedly endorse Berger.” The full content of the Met News endorsement can be read by clicking here. 

Los Angeles Metropolitan News-Enterprise Endorses David Berger for Judge

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Exactly five weeks away from the March 3, 2020 Primary Election, the Los Angeles News-Enterprise today announced its "wholehearted" endorsement of my candidacy for Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 80.

[Click on the image to read the text]

The Los Angeles News-Enterprise, or the 'Met News' as it is known by many, is a daily newspaper primarily serving the Los Angeles legal community, and is a highly regarded source for many. The Met News is unique in that it extensively covers the bi-annual judicial elections and provides a wealth of information on judicial candidates who are subject to in-depth interviews and extensive research in the legal community as to qualities and qualifications of their candidacy.

According to the Met News "Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney David A. Berger looms as the outstanding contender in this race.

He is highly articulate, skilled at analysis, composed, decisive, and knows what he’s doing.
Another member of his office, Nick C. Rini, is also running. Rini boasts of 35 years as a prosecutor, contrasted with Berger’s 24 years. While the respective length and breadth of candidates’ job experiences is meaningful, the mere fact of seniority of one over the other in a particular office cannot reasonably be construed, as Rini portrays, as establishing superior skills.

Rini, a journeyman prosecutor, possibly could handle the job of a judge. But, his performance would fall short of Berger’s.

There are mixed reviews of Rini. He has favorable office evaluations. One judge terms him a “very competent and conscientious lawyer,” while another advises:
“Nick Rini has a difficult personality, to be charitable. He is quick to anger, slow to cool off, and can be vindictive towards criminal defense attorneys. He appears to enjoy controlling others, keeping attorneys unnecessarily waiting for his attention. His advocacy/legal skills are questionable, rarely researching the law, and relying more on bombast and repetition than calm, sound legal reasoning.”
From what we have been able to ascertain, Berger enjoys respect among deputies in the Public Defender’s Office, being seen as fair, courteous, reasonable and ethical, while Rini is viewed as dishonest, unpleasant, lazy, and hot-headed.

Klint James McKay is the third contestant. He does have judicial experience—of sorts. McKay is an administrative law judge for the California Department of Social Services. He is a delightful gentleman, and no doubt sincere. But among the three contestants, he’s a distant third.
It is natural that an ALJ in Sacramento, handling Affordable Care Act appeals, would, offhand, lack savvy in election law and not know much about Los Angeles races for Superior Court posts. However, it might well be expected that someone who enters a race for such a post would do some boning up.

McKay’s gaffes in 2018—when, for a brief spell, he ran against a randomly targeted incumbent because he didn’t know there were 10 open seats that year—and his blunders this year, including filing papers for an office for which he was not eligible, demonstrate that he is simply not careful.
So sloppy is he that he even states on his campaign website that he is seeking “appointment,” rather than election to the Superior Court.

If he is not careful in pursuing his own interests, can it be supposed that he would display adequate attentiveness to matters, often of vital consequence to parties, that would come before him if he were a Superior Court judge?

We wholeheartedly endorse Berger."

Metropolitan News-Enterprise Reviews Candidates for Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 80

On December 24, 2019, The Los Angeles Metropolitan News-Enterprise published a review of the three candidates for Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 80.

Please read the article by clicking HERE, and once you have read about all three candidates, I do hope you will agree that David Berger is the best choice for Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 80.

ADDA Endorses David Berger for Judge

I am very proud and honored to announce that the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA) has endorsed my candidacy for Judge of the Superior Court, Office No. 80. 

The ADDA is the union representing deputy district attorneys (DDAs) of Los Angeles County. The ADDA strives to advance a work environment that allows it’s nearly 1,000 members to focus on their role as the primary guardians of justice in the courts. Los Angeles County is home to over 10 million residents, many of whom become victims of crime — while out on the street, or in a car, or at home.  Working with law enforcement, ADDA members handle thousands of cases for filing consideration and prosecution in court, and represent the People of the State of California. The goal of ADDA members is to seek justice. Justice for victims. Justice for the innocent. Justice for the guilty. Justice for all.

Deputy District Attorney David Berger to run for Judge of the Superior Court in 2020

I am very pleased to announce that I have, today, filed the necessary paperwork with the Los Angeles County Registrar/Recorder to run for Office No. 80, one of the 12 open seats for Judge of the Superior Court in the March 3, 2020 Primary Election.

My decision to run was made easier by the many messages I received in the past few days from the many good people who have encouraged me to enter the race.

The Primary Election is much earlier than in previous years, however, I am confident that I can meet the challenge and I look forward to running a spirited campaign.

I am very grateful for the tremendous support I received in the past, and it is my sincere hope that my candidacy will attract the support and approval of the electorate.