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Mar. 23, 2026

With a knowing eye, felony trial Judge Alison Matsumoto watches lawyers practice their craft

From voir dire to sentencing, Judge Alison Matsumoto describes the unpredictability of jury trials, the evolution of criminal law and the responsibility of making high-stakes decisions from the bench.

Read more about Alison S. Matsumoto...
With a knowing eye, felony trial Judge Alison Matsumoto watches lawyers practice their craft

Alison S. Matsumoto

Los Angeles County Superior Court

Career Highlights: Elected Los Angeles County Superior Court judge, June 3, 2014; deputy district attorney, Los Angeles County, 1998-2015; deputy district attorney, Sacramento County, 1997-98

Law School: University of San Diego School of Law, 1996
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LOS ANGELES - Superior Court Judge Alison S. Matsumoto watched as a prosecutor and a deputy public defender posed everyday scenarios to prospective jurors during voir dire in a recent murder trial, each testing how panelists might evaluate the evidence they would hear.

One described a missing cookie at home. The other offered a chaotic boxing match, where a spectator might miss the moment one fighter bites the other's ear. The hypotheticals drew quiet reactions fro... (continued)

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