Judge
Family Law
Los Angeles County Superior Court
Central District - Stanley Mosk Courthouse
Department/Division:
13
Courtroom/Floor:
312
111 N Hill St
Los Angeles , CA 90012-3014
(213) 633-0513
Los Angeles , CA
Appointed Los Angeles County Superior Court judge by Gov. Gavin Newsom, Dec. 7, 2023; director, senior staff attorney, ACLU Southern California, 2016-2023; associate, O'Melveny & Myers LLP, 2012-16, law clerk, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stephen R. Reinhardt, 2011-12
Harvard Law School, 2010
Judicial Profiles
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Judge Melanie Ochoa balances preparation with empathy and authority with patience | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 22, 2025 |
Columns
| Title | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
| The killing of Daniel Shaver | U.S. Supreme Court, Criminal, Civil Rights | Dec. 21, 2017 |
Verdicts & Settlements
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Justice Coalition, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al. | Constitutional Law | Plaintiff | Oct. 8, 2021 |
| Title | Court | Published |
|---|---|---|
| Judge Melanie Ochoa balances preparation with empathy and authority with patience | Los Angeles County Superior Court | Aug. 22, 2025 |
| Title | Category | Published |
|---|---|---|
| The killing of Daniel Shaver | U.S. Supreme Court, Criminal, Civil Rights | Dec. 21, 2017 |
| Case Name | Topic | Role | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| Youth Justice Coalition, et al. v. City of Los Angeles, et al. | Constitutional Law | Plaintiff | Oct. 8, 2021 |