League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
	Los Angeles County, CA June 5, 2012 Election
	Candidates Answer Questions on the Issues Judge of the Superior Court; County of Los Angeles; Office 10

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles County and asked of all candidates for this office.     See below for questions on Personal Qualities, Access to the Legal System Click on a name for candidate information.   See also more information about this contest. 1. What experiences and personal qualities best equip you to serve as judge? Answer from Sanjay T. Kumar: I have been on the bench since 2001. My superiors have described me as "one of the finest judges in the state" who has "excelled in every position" I have held since joining the court. The Los Angeles Times explained, "Kumar is one of the court's superstars, well known for his unflappable demeanor . . . and, especially, for his ability to parse difficult legal issues and then to explain his reasoning in writing. He is one of the very few trial judges called on to sit in for appellate justices when the need arises . . . ." 2. Do you believe that all citizens have adequate access to legal help and the legal system? If not, what can be done to provide wider and better access? Answer from Sanjay T. Kumar: Access is sometimes difficult for those who lack legal knowledge and the resources necessary to retain private counsel. Recent funding reductions to court operations further threaten access to the court. Due to lean budgets, the court will have to rely on such things as on-line services and organized volunteers to provide guidance to indigent litigants. With these efforts, we can do our best, under difficult financial circumstances, to provide all citizens with adequate access to legal help and the legal system. Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted. The order of the candidates is random and changes daily. Candidates who did not respond are not listed on this page.