Judge Richard S. Kemalyan

Judge Richard S. Kemalyan has served on the Los Angeles Superior Court since his appointment by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on March 17, 2006, giving him nearly two decades of experience on the bench. His tenure places him among the more experienced judges at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. He has been affiliated with the Armenian Bar Association's judicial community, participating in the organization's Annual Judges' Night events, which reflects engagement with the local legal community beyond standard judicial duties. The most documented case in the available record involves a high-profile October 2024 ruling in which Judge Kemalyan found a mother legally insane after she drowned her three children. This ruling, covered by the Los Angeles Times and Patch, demonstrates his willingness to engage with complex and emotionally charged criminal matters involving mental health defenses. The ruling indicates he applies the legal standard for insanity in serious criminal cases and is not averse to findings that diverge from public sentiment when the evidence supports them. Beyond these biographical and case-specific data points, no ruling analyses, attorney observations, or ingested content are available to characterize his broader judicial philosophy, procedural preferences, or patterns across civil or other criminal matters. Attorneys should treat this profile as a starting point and supplement it with direct research into his recent docket at Stanley Mosk Courthouse.

Given the limited data available, attorneys cannot draw on documented ruling patterns or procedural tendencies specific to Judge Kemalyan. What the record does establish is that he presided over and resolved a high-profile insanity defense case in 2024, ruling in favor of the defense on the insanity finding. Attorneys handling criminal matters with mental health components before Judge Kemalyan should be prepared to present thorough expert testimony and well-documented psychiatric evidence, as the October 2024 ruling demonstrates he will engage substantively with such defenses when the evidentiary record supports them. Attorneys should also be aware that Judge Kemalyan has been on the bench since 2006, meaning he brings substantial experience to procedural and substantive matters. Experienced judges at this level typically expect counsel to be fully prepared, to have reviewed all relevant procedural rules, and to present arguments efficiently. There is no data available to characterize his preferences for oral argument length, motion practice, or settlement posture, so attorneys should consult the court's local rules and standing orders for his department as a baseline. Given his community engagement with the Armenian Bar Association, Judge Kemalyan demonstrates involvement in the broader Los Angeles legal community. This does not translate into any documented courtroom preference, but it does suggest he is an engaged member of the bench who participates in professional legal organizations.

• critical

  Research Department Standing Orders and Local Rules

  No procedural preferences are documented in this profile. Attorneys must independently obtain and review Judge Kemalyan's department-specific standing orders and any posted courtroom rules at Stanley Mosk Courthouse before any appearance.

• critical

  Review Recent Docket for Ruling Patterns

  With zero analyzed rulings available, attorneys should search Trellis, CourtNet, or the LASC online docket for recent orders and rulings from Judge Kemalyan's department to identify any emerging patterns in motion practice or case management.

• important

  Prepare Robust Expert Testimony for Mental Health Issues

  In criminal matters involving mental health defenses, the October 2024 ruling confirms Judge Kemalyan will evaluate insanity claims on the merits. Attorneys should retain qualified psychiatric experts and ensure their reports are thorough and well-documented.

• important

  Consult Attorneys with Recent Appearances Before This Judge

  Given the absence of attorney observations in this profile, firsthand accounts from practitioners who have recently appeared before Judge Kemalyan are the most reliable source of current courtroom intelligence.

• ›Arrive fully prepared on all procedural and substantive issues; Judge Kemalyan's nearly 20 years on the bench means he will expect counsel to know the rules without prompting.
• ›In criminal matters involving mental health defenses, present expert evidence in an organized and thorough manner, as the record shows Judge Kemalyan engages seriously with such evidence.
• ›Consult the Stanley Mosk Courthouse department-specific rules and any posted courtroom protocols before your first appearance, as no specific etiquette preferences are documented in the available data.