Myanna Dellinger

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Myanna Dellinger

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Education

Bachelor's

The Aarhus School of Business, 1988

Graduate

The Aarhus School of Business, 1991

Law

University of Oregon School of Law, 2008

Personal

Religion

Agnostic

Profession

Law professor

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Myanna Dellinger ran for election for judge of the Superior Court of Los Angeles County in California. She lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Dellinger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

In 2020, Dellinger participated in a Candidate Conversation hosted by Ballotpedia and EnCiv. Click here to view the recording.

Elections

2020

See also: Municipal elections in Los Angeles County, California (2020)

General election

General election for Superior Court of Los Angeles County

Steve Morgan defeated Myanna Dellinger in the general election for Superior Court of Los Angeles County on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Steve Morgan (Nonpartisan)	50.9	1,740,406
		Myanna Dellinger (Nonpartisan)	49.1	1,680,170

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,420,576
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for Superior Court of Los Angeles County

Steve Morgan and Myanna Dellinger defeated Robert Jacobs in the primary for Superior Court of Los Angeles County on March 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Steve Morgan (Nonpartisan)	49.2	776,425
✔		Myanna Dellinger (Nonpartisan)	39.5	624,600
	Submit photo	Robert Jacobs (Nonpartisan)	11.3	178,368

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 1,579,393
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Candidate Conversations

Moderated by journalist and political commentator Greta Van Susteren, Candidate Conversations is a virtual debate format that allows voters to easily get to know their candidates through a short video Q&A. Click below to watch the conversation for this race.

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Myanna Dellinger completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dellinger's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

A first-generation immigrant from a blue-collar background, I am now the only female left in the judicial races in November 2020. Most candidates are prosecutors. Most judges are males (and many come from a prosecutorial background). We don't need more of the same, we need something better and new! I will add much new insight, diversity, and a crucial female voice to the judiciary.

Judges help shape society - just think civil rights, marriage rights, and other important law that stems from judges! I will help support modern equal rights within the boundary of the law when I join the bench. I will work for YOUR rights in the future.

I graduated at the top of my law school class and worked for state and federal-level trial and appellate court judges before becoming a law professor, training 1,400+ attorneys how to practice law. With more than a decade of high-level neutral, legal experience, you can trust me to carefully balance the law and interests of everyone who comes before me as a judge without bias. I am also a Fulbright Scholar in climate change law and policy and a top 10% author on the global research network SSRN.

“I ask no favor for my sex; all I ask of our brethren is that they take their feet off our necks.” Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Vote smart, hardworking women into office! Even male judges wish to see more women on the bench!
• Diversity is key in LA County. I reflect what LA County truly looks like today!
• Judges should know the law exceptionally well - I was no. 1 in my class and am a law professor! I know my stuff!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about all parts of government - including the judiciary - being as diverse and multifaceted as society at large. Traditional power distributions do not work well for most people. I am concerned about power and wealth continually being concentrated at the top segments of society and among men. Fairness and equal opportunity for everyone are key.

I firmly believe that women can contribute in meaningful ways to the improvement of our society. Many great men have done much for the wonderful city and county of Los Angeles, but women can and should contribute more. However, we cannot do so unless we are given a chance to do so! The glass ceiling still exists. I have a proven track record of being able and willing to succeed against this and pave the way forward for better ways for both men and women in the future.

I am concerned about the disproportionately poor treatment of people of color in the judicial system and elsewhere. Racism and all other types of discrimination are unacceptable.

I am concerned about gun violence.

I am passionate about all members of society having access to health care, education, being able to earn a living wage, and having sufficient retirement options.

Climate change is one of the worst problems we all face today. I am very passionate about the environment and species extinction.

Fairness, kindness, professionalism and service are key to me!

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to people who are smart, fair, down to earth, and interested in serving others while living up to their own potential. In particular, I admire Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan, who in recent interviews about her new position on the Supreme Court said the following, among other things:

"The law is an intellectual puzzle. It is a craft that has real-world impact."

When considering an alternate career path, "just jump in."

"Be open to the possibility of the complete disruption of your plans, [] look out for good opportunities, and take more risks than you think you should."

She exemplifies how important it is to be open-minded, energetic and not afraid of challenges. I am following her example to the best of my ability.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

I loved Erin Brockovitz as it shows how far a smart, dedicated, and hardworking woman can go. It also showed the importance of fighting for environmental justice.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, hard work, kindness, a willingness to help others and the willingness to treat everyone respectfully and equally. Officials in LA County should be willing to embrace a variety of international and modern values although, of course, enforcing and upholding our own law. Judges should be able to demonstrate their intellectual skills.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

To judge everyone without bias. To keep learning about new developments within the law and public policy to the extent it relates to the law. To treat everyone respectfully no matter what their background. To work hard every day.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It shows the importance of self-discovery and how sometimes, our answers lie right before our feet.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

I am a recent cancer survivor (breast, 2019). I was the sole caregiver for my elderly mother in Denmark until she unfortunately passed away in the middle of my run for this office! I work full time out of state several weeks a year while my husband and house are in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles. I have attended university three times, working hard to improve my career. I am a mid-life career changer. I emigrated from quiet Denmark to the hustle and bustle of Southern California without having any friends or my own family there. My whole life has been a struggle and it still is! Every day, though, is a new chance and I embrace that. Vote for me!

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

Judges sometimes create law. Important rights such as civil, abortion, and marriage rights in large part stem from judges, who also interpret often confusing statutory law. By voting for candidates who are smart, informed, and worldly just as the people of LA County, you and your children will get better chances for an improved future. Judges are a co-equal and thus crucial branch of the government along with the legislature and the executive. Judges should be well educated, fair, and balanced. I am.

How would you describe your legal philosophy?

The law should develop along with modern society. Judges should, of course, not be "activists," but they do help shape society in very important ways. I will apply the law fairly and without bias, carefully weighing the interests of everyone involved as well as public policy and its development. Above all, my record shows my exceptional legal skills. Being able to understand and apply the law as it was intended is key. I was no. 1 in my class and am a law professor. I know the law inside and out! That's important.

Is there a particular judge, past or present, whom you admire?

Ruth Bader Ginsberg - she is a brilliant, hardworking justice who paved the way forward for so many others, men and women alike.

Elena Kagan - she is down to earth and came from an untraditional professional background like I and am contributing very much to society.

Do you believe that empathy is an important quality for a judge?

Of course! You want your judges to be able to apply the law as it was intended and not feel overly sorry for some individuals, but you also want judges who, like I, are willing to consider when it might be relevant to, for instance, give people a second chance after serving potentially reduced sentences in order to get education and/or job training in order to become productive members of society again instead of "locking them up and throwing away the key." We know that that doesn't work! New research points out better methods of punishment; we should be open-minded to learn about how to best address personal and societal issues. I will be.

Why are you running for this particular court seat?

Seat # selected randomly.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for a judge to have previous experience in government or politics?

No, but I do believe that it is crucial that the bench in LA County come to reflect much more of the diversity from _various angles_, not just one's color, than is currently the case. Most judges are male. Many, if not most, candidates in this race are prosecutors. We don't need more of the same, we know that already doesn't work!

What is your primary concern about today's legal system in your state?

Some of my main concerns are as follows, but there are many others:

The racial disparity in the criminal justice system.

Access to justice

Environmental justice.

The special concerns of LGBT people and women.

What do you consider the greatest opportunity for the legal system in your state?

To be one of the first legal systems in the nation to seriously address and improve such issues as the severe racial disparity in the criminal law system and access to justice. To be more inclusive towards women on the bench.

Would you be interested in serving on a higher court in the future? If so, which court appeals to you?

I'd be happy to serve at the trial level in LA County - I have a lot to give and attained high status as a tenured law professor. I am not doing this for the power or prestige. I just want to work for people at the trial level.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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