David B. Walgren, a sitting Los Angeles County Superior Court judge since 2012, is running in a nonpartisan general election race for his seat.

Walgren, a Los Angeles native, spent roughly 16 to 17 years as a deputy district attorney in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office before joining the bench, according to the Los Angeles Times. He rose through specialized units including the Hardcore Gang and Major Crimes divisions. The Metropolitan News-Enterprise reported that Walgren faces a challenge for the seat.

Candidate information

  • Name: David B. Walgren
  • Office sought: Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge (Walgren Seat)
  • Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
  • Education: Undergraduate degree, University of California, Los Angeles, according to Ballotpedia; law degree, UC Davis School of Law, 1995

Experience and public service

Walgren worked as a Los Angeles County deputy district attorney after earning his law degree in 1995, according to the Metropolitan News-Enterprise. He served in the Hardcore Gang and Major Crimes divisions during a prosecutorial career spanning roughly 16 to 17 years, according to the Los Angeles Times.

His highest-profile case came in 2011, when he served as lead prosecutor alongside Deborah Brazil in the involuntary manslaughter trial of Dr. Conrad Murray, Michael Jackson's personal physician, according to Wikipedia's account of the case. The jury returned a guilty verdict.

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

Then-Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Walgren to the Los Angeles County Superior Court that same year, according to the Metropolitan News-Enterprise.

On the issues

Judicial philosophy and courtroom management: In a Los Angeles Times candidate questionnaire, Walgren said his top courtroom priority is ensuring cases are handled fairly and efficiently, with timely decisions.

"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 his questionnaire response.

He added that a fair, efficient and respectful court functions as intended.

Endorsements

The Los Angeles Times reported the following rating:

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

Walgren's positions are drawn from his responses to the Los Angeles Times candidate questionnaire.