David B. Walgren is on the Nov. 3 ballot for Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge, the seat he has held since 2012.

The race is nonpartisan.

Walgren, a Los Angeles native, said his top courtroom priority is ensuring cases are handled fairly and efficiently. "I run a disciplined courtroom and focus on applying the law consistently so that outcomes are based on the facts, not delay or confusion," Walgren said in a Los Angeles Times candidate questionnaire.

Walgren has been certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Candidate information

  • Name: David B. Walgren
  • Office sought: Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge (Walgren Seat)
  • Education: Undergraduate degree, University of California, Los Angeles; juris doctor, UC Davis School of Law, 1995
  • Appointed: 2012, by then-Governor Jerry Brown

Experience and public service

Before joining the bench, Walgren served approximately 16 to 17 years as a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, according to the Los Angeles Times. He rose through specialized units including the Hardcore Gang and Major Crimes divisions.

The Los Angeles County Bar Association named Walgren Prosecutor of the Year in 2012, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Walgren was the lead prosecutor, alongside Deborah Brazil, in the 2011 involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, according to Wikipedia's account of the case.

The trial ended in a guilty verdict.

Then-Governor Jerry Brown appointed Walgren to the Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2012, according to the Metropolitan News-Enterprise. He has served on the bench since that appointment.

On the issues

Judicial philosophy and courtroom management: Walgren said his priority is fair and timely case handling. He said he focuses on applying the law consistently so that outcomes depend on the facts presented in court. "When the court is fair, efficient and respectful, the system works the way it is supposed to," Walgren said in his candidate questionnaire response to the Los Angeles Times.

Endorsements

The following rating was reported by the Los Angeles Times:

  • Los Angeles County Bar Association Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee rated Walgren "Exceptionally Well Qualified" for the 2026 election.

Candidate positions in this profile are drawn from Walgren's responses to the Los Angeles Times candidate questionnaire. The election is Nov. 3, 2026.