Judge Laura L. Laesecke

Judge Laura L. Laesecke was appointed to the Los Angeles County Superior Court by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in February 2010 and brings an 18-year career as a Deputy District Attorney with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office to the bench. Eight of those years were spent in the Hardcore Gang Unit, where she handled serious violent and gang-related criminal prosecutions. This prosecutorial background is directly reflected in the types of cases she has presided over, which include high-profile criminal matters such as a DUI triple-murder case, a murder case arising from a Halloween crash that resulted in a 25-to-life sentence, and a case involving a felon sentenced to 27 years. She has also served as presiding judge for Long Beach, demonstrating administrative leadership within the court system. Judge Laesecke's courtroom record in serious criminal matters reflects a bench officer who is comfortable with both negotiated resolutions and full trials. News coverage documents her willingness to encourage plea deals while also conducting complete trials to verdict. Her educational background includes a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law (1992), and she is a registered Democrat. The combination of elite academic credentials and nearly two decades of front-line criminal prosecution experience shapes a judicial temperament oriented toward substantive command of criminal law, particularly in violent offense and gang-related contexts.

Attorneys appearing before Judge Laesecke in criminal matters should recognize that she has deep, firsthand expertise in gang-related prosecutions and violent crime cases. Her eight years in the Hardcore Gang Unit mean she is not easily persuaded by surface-level arguments about gang evidence, gang enhancements, or the mechanics of violent crime prosecutions. Defense counsel in particular should prepare thorough, well-grounded challenges to gang allegations and enhancements rather than relying on general objections, as the judge has direct prosecutorial experience in this area. Judge Laesecke has demonstrated openness to plea negotiations, as reflected in news coverage of her cases. Attorneys should come to court prepared to engage in substantive settlement discussions and should not treat plea discussions as a formality. At the same time, she has shown willingness to take cases to full trial, so attorneys must be equally prepared to litigate. Sentencing in her courtroom has included substantial terms — 25-to-life and 27-year sentences are documented — indicating that she applies serious consequences in violent and gang-related matters. Counsel should calibrate sentencing arguments accordingly and present well-supported mitigation evidence when seeking below-guideline outcomes.

• critical

  Master Gang Enhancement Law and Evidence Rules

  Given Judge Laesecke's eight years in the Hardcore Gang Unit, any argument touching on gang enhancements, gang expert testimony, or gang-related evidence must be grounded in current statutory and case law. Shallow arguments in this area will be immediately recognized as inadequate.

• critical

  Prepare Detailed Sentencing Memoranda

  Documented sentences in her courtroom include 25-to-life and 27-year terms. Both prosecution and defense should prepare comprehensive sentencing memoranda with supporting authority and factual record citations, as she takes sentencing seriously.

• important

  Develop a Concrete Plea Position Before Appearing

  News coverage confirms she encourages plea negotiations. Attorneys should arrive with a clearly defined and realistic plea position, supported by the facts and law, to engage productively in any settlement discussions the court initiates.

• important

  Prepare for Full Trial Readiness

  Judge Laesecke has taken cases to full trial in high-profile criminal matters. Do not assume a case will resolve short of trial; full trial preparation is necessary regardless of plea discussions.

• Nice

  Review Her High-Profile Case Outcomes

  Publicly reported cases — including the DUI triple-murder and Halloween crash murder — provide insight into how she has handled serious violent offense prosecutions. Reviewing these outcomes informs realistic case assessment.

• ›Demonstrate thorough command of the facts and law in serious criminal matters; Judge Laesecke's prosecutorial background means she will recognize underprepared presentations immediately.
• ›Engage substantively and in good faith in any plea negotiation discussions the court initiates, as she has a documented practice of encouraging negotiated resolutions.
• ›Present sentencing arguments with specific evidentiary support and legal authority, not generalized appeals, given the substantial sentences documented in her courtroom.
• ›Treat gang-related legal issues with particular rigor and precision, as her eight years in the Hardcore Gang Unit give her direct expertise to evaluate the quality of those arguments.