It’s nice
when the judiciary in Los Angeles county reflects the society it serves, says
appellate Justice Dorothy C. Kim, who a year ago became the first Korean
American justice in California’s history.
“It is an honor
to serve whether it is as the first or the 50th,” Kim said. “I was born in
Korea but grew up in Los Angeles. It has been a great privilege to serve the
very community where I grew up,” either as an assistant U.S. attorney, a
superior court judge or on the 2nd District Court of Appeal.
- “You have to advocate, but the record is set,” Kim said. “The most important skill is being able to accurately describe a record and explain as clearly as you can what the reported error is and explain why it is you are entitled to the relief you seek. You want to be credible as an advocate and ensure that if you said something in a particular way that the court — which will inevitably go through the court record itself — will find it there.”
- “I am very confident that my colleagues and I keep a very open mind during oral arguments and often times I use oral argument as an opportunity to have questions answered,” Kim said. “Unlike in trial court — where it’s very free-flowing in terms of question and answer — this is our one shot to ask questions after we have read the briefs and reviewed all the record.”
- When she isn’t sitting on a panel or researching cases, Kim enjoys spending time with her family, running in half marathons and spending time outdoors.
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