Activists Aim to Reshape Judiciary by Electing Progressive Judges

A growing movement is seeking to reshape the American judiciary by electing progressive judges, with a particular focus on Los Angeles County. The advocacy organization La Defensa, founded in 2020, has spent nearly $1 million over two election cycles to support judicial candidates who advocate for an end to incarceration and a fundamental overhaul of the criminal justice system.

La Defensa, described as a “femme-led” group whose founders identify with communities such as "Chicanx, queer, immigrant, undocumented, working class people with incarcerated loved ones," aims to reduce harm and disrupt traditional legal power structures. Ivette Alé-Ferlito, a co-founder, wrote in 2023 that electing progressive judges is an "opening move in what they hope will be a national takeover of the judiciary" and that "it will take collective action to end incarceration in all its forms."

The group's political arm, Justice PAC, has received financial backing from notable donors, including Liz Simons, an heiress to the Renaissance Technology fortune, and Patty Quillin, wife of Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings. La Defensa is also associated with Tides Advocacy, a network that receives funding from the Open Society Foundations.

La Defensa’s strategy involves supporting candidates with backgrounds in public defense and civil rights law, contrasting with the typical judicial pathway of former prosecutors. Their "Defenders of Justice" slate in the 2022 and 2024 election cycles aimed to elect judges who align with their vision for criminal justice reform.

This effort has led to the election of three judges: George Turner Jr., Ericka Wiley, and Holly Hancock. George Turner Jr., who studied race, class, and gender at UCLA and was influenced by critical race theory scholars, has served as a public defender. He has drawn parallels between the courtroom and a "slave ship," emphasizing his role in defending Black men. Turner advocates for addressing crime through social services like housing and job programs, stating that "putting folks in cages, it just doesn’t work."

Ericka Wiley, a former Los Angeles County deputy public defender with over two decades of experience, ran for judge after attending La Defensa's judicial leadership academy. She has suggested that the problem of violent crime in Los Angeles is "exaggerated" and has called for dismantling systems that support mass incarceration.

Holly Hancock, also a former public defender, believes that increased "diversity" within the judiciary, encompassing race, ethnicity, gender, and gender fluidity, can address systemic issues. She has expressed a desire to "deconstruct" the justice system and has endorsed practices such as healing circles involving offenders and victims.

While the elected judges are currently assigned to matters such as children's court, family law, small claims, and unlawful detainers, La Defensa views these appointments as a crucial first step. The organization has also endorsed candidates for other elected offices, such as Los Angeles city attorney, and has stated ambitions to influence the judicial system at all levels, potentially up to the Supreme Court.