L.A. Judge Rejects Prosecutors' Challenge To DA Hires

Court rules that most of the union's grievances over ex-public defenders hired by former DA Gascón are now moot.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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A Los Angeles Superior Court judge has denied a long-running legal challenge from the union representing county prosecutors over the District Attorney's hiring of former public defenders, concluding that promotions and departures inside the office have largely made the dispute moot. The judge said the court's role was limited to reviewing the Civil Service Commission's decisions rather than substituting its own judgment.

Why it matters

The ruling reinforces that complaints over personnel moves in the District Attorney's office will primarily be handled through Civil Service Commission proceedings and administrative appeals rather than fast-track court orders, effectively closing a prominent chapter in a years-long internal dispute.

The details

The Association of Deputy District Attorneys had argued that then-District Attorney George Gascón sidestepped the county's merit system by appointing several deputy public defenders directly into deputy district attorney positions without competitive exams. The judge said the court's job was largely to review the commission's record rather than swap in its own judgment, and called the petition 'almost entirely moot' because most of the original appellants had either been promoted or left the office.

  • The union filed its petition in October 2021.
  • The court heard arguments on January 14, 2026.
  • The judge denied the union's petition this week.

The players

George Gascón

Former District Attorney of Los Angeles County who hired ex-public defenders.

Stephen I. Goorvitch

Los Angeles Superior Court judge who denied the union's petition.

Association of Deputy District Attorneys

The union representing county prosecutors that filed the legal challenge.

John Perroni

Former deputy public defender who was transferred to a deputy district attorney position.

Nathan Hochman

Current District Attorney of Los Angeles County, sworn in on December 3, 2024.

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What they’re saying

“The court's job was largely to review the commission's record rather than swap in its own judgment for that of an administrative body.”

— Judge Stephen I. Goorvitch, Los Angeles Superior Court judge (MyNewsLA)

The takeaway

The ruling reinforces that personnel disputes in the District Attorney's office will primarily be handled through administrative channels like the Civil Service Commission, rather than through fast-track court orders, effectively closing a prominent chapter in a long-running internal dispute.