Judges and Judiciary
Jun. 18, 2026
Deputy DA unseats incumbent LA judge in rare election upset
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Tal Khan Valbuena defeated incumbent Judge Robert S. Draper in a rare judicial election upset, ending Draper's tenure as misconduct charges remained pending before the Commission on Judicial Performance.
Deputy District Attorney Tal Khan Valbuena has defeated incumbent Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Robert S. Draper in one of the rare judicial election upsets in California, ending the tenure of a judge once regarded as one of the state's most accomplished trial lawyers.
As of Wednesday, returns showed Khan Valbuena receiving 56.83% of the vote to Draper's 43.17%.
Unseating incumbent judges is rare. This year, Draper was one of three Los Angeles County jud...
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