Judge Kerry L. White

Judge Kerry L. White serves on the Los Angeles Superior Court, having been appointed by Governor Jerry Brown on November 2, 2017. Prior to her appointment, she practiced as an attorney in Long Beach, California. Her courtroom at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse has handled significant criminal matters, including a murder trial in the killing of film consultant and social justice advocate Michael Latt, which resulted in a sentence of 35 years to life in July 2024. She has also presided over proceedings related to the killing of former 'General Hospital' actor Johnny Wactor and the rape criminal case against 'Scrubs' co-executive producer Eric Weinberg. The cases publicly associated with Judge White are exclusively criminal in nature and involve high-profile defendants and victims with significant media attention. The 35-years-to-life sentence in the Michael Latt murder trial reflects a willingness to impose substantial sentences in serious violent felony cases. The breadth of her notable case assignments — spanning homicide, sexual assault, and high-profile entertainment industry figures — indicates she handles serious felony criminal matters. Because no analyzed rulings, attorney observations, or ingested content are available, no conclusions can be drawn about her procedural preferences, motion practice tendencies, evidentiary rulings, or courtroom management style. Attorneys should treat this profile as a foundational baseline and supplement it with direct courthouse intelligence before appearing before her.

Given that Judge White's publicly documented cases are all serious criminal matters — murder and rape prosecutions — attorneys appearing before her in criminal cases should be prepared for a courtroom experienced with high-stakes, high-visibility proceedings. The Michael Latt murder trial and the Johnny Wactor proceedings both carried significant public and media scrutiny, which means Judge White has demonstrated experience managing complex, emotionally charged criminal cases through verdict and sentencing. The 35-years-to-life sentence imposed in the Michael Latt murder case is the only documented sentencing outcome available. Defense attorneys in serious violent felony matters should not assume leniency at sentencing and should prepare robust mitigation presentations. Prosecutors should be aware that the court has demonstrated the capacity to impose substantial sentences when the facts support them. Because no ruling analyses or attorney observations are available, attorneys cannot rely on documented patterns regarding her preferences for oral argument, motion briefing, or courtroom decorum. Direct outreach to attorneys who have appeared before her at Stanley Mosk, or review of publicly available minute orders and transcripts from her department, is strongly recommended before any significant appearance.

• critical

  Conduct Direct Courthouse Intelligence Gathering

  Because no attorney observations or ruling analyses are available, attorneys should speak directly with colleagues who have appeared in Judge White's department at Stanley Mosk before any significant hearing.

• critical

  Review Publicly Available Minute Orders and Transcripts

  Search Trellis, CourtNet, or the LASC online portal for minute orders and transcripts from Judge White's department to identify procedural patterns, scheduling preferences, and motion outcomes not captured in this profile.

• important

  Prepare Comprehensive Sentencing Materials in Violent Felony Cases

  The only documented sentencing outcome is 35 years to life in a murder case. Defense counsel should prepare detailed mitigation packages; prosecution should prepare thorough aggravation evidence.

• important

  Assess Media and Public Attention on Your Case

  Judge White's notable cases have all involved significant media coverage. If your matter carries public visibility, prepare for heightened courtroom formality and ensure all filings and conduct are media-scrutiny ready.

• Nice

  Confirm Department Assignment and Current Docket Type

  Verify that Judge White's current department assignment at Stanley Mosk still covers the case type you are handling, as judicial assignments in LASC can change.

• ›Maintain strict professionalism at all times; Judge White's courtroom has handled high-profile, media-covered cases and a formal courtroom environment is consistent with that docket.
• ›Arrive fully prepared on the facts and law; the complexity of the cases on her documented docket — murder trials, high-profile criminal proceedings — reflects a courtroom that demands thorough preparation.
• ›Treat all proceedings with appropriate gravity; the serious nature of the criminal matters she has presided over sets a tone of solemnity that attorneys should match in demeanor and argument.