Judge Lisa Strassner shows how to be firm but friendly

LANCASTER - Attorneys new to Judge Lisa M. Strassner's courtroom should expect to get friendly with the judge, and fast. "I'm very informal off the bench," Strassner said. "I speak to the lawyers by first name. I've known these lawyers forever."

Newcomers will "know right off the bat. They'll see that I'm a welcoming court because they'll see how I interact with the other lawyers that do know me," she said.

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That relaxed environment rapidly changes when it's time to get down to business. With a daily caseload of 17 to 20 felony matters, many of them complex and involving murder or sexual violence, efficiency is paramount.

"When we're on the record, I'm formal," Strassner said.

Attorneys who have appeared before Strassner say that this attitude translates to a tightly run courtroom that is big on accountability and order, but fair.

"She always exercises control in her courtroom, and I will tell you my clients find her scary, but more importantly fair," Silva L. Megerditchian of SLM Law APC wrote in an email.

Strassner has spent the last 3 1/2 years conducting felony trials in the Antelope Valley, a fitting assignment given her 19 years working as a deputy public defender in Los Angeles County.

While the judge makes sure defendants are held responsible for their crimes, she doesn't discount the role mental health treatment and drug rehabilitation programs play in the sentencing process.

"I have no problem with accountability," Strassner said. However, she added, "It's not just about prison.

"I am always very cognizant of taking into account any types of mental health treatment or substance abuse treatment in my dispositions," she said. "If it hasn't been addressed, it generally will be addressed by my court."

Despite this, she knows when it's time for a case to move forward.

"When I see that something has been languishing for a while I'm going to have to push it a bit more like, 'OK, enough is enough. It's either going to resolve or it's going to go to trial,'" Strassner said.

Her journey to the bench began as a commissioner at Michael Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse in 2015, where she presided over misdemeanors for three years. She then was assigned to juvenile court in Lancaster and Sylmar.

Since 2021, she has been assigned to felony trials. She said her transition from commissioner to judge in 2022, after being elevated by Gov. Gavin Newsom, was seamless, having already dealt with felony cases.

"There hasn't been a tremendous amount of segue or difference because I did it as a commissioner," she noted. "They felt I was qualified enough to do that."

One of the key issues in her new role has been staying updated on constant changes in the law. That's particularly pressing when dealing with post-conviction matters like resentencing hearings. She deals with cases based on legal theories that no longer exist, presided over by jurists who are no longer on the bench. These extensive evidentiary hearings can take multiple days, as the prosecution must prove the case again.

"It's always a constant, always moving," she said about the rules, not only on post-conviction but also expungement motions and habeas corpus petitions.

Helping to keep on top of this is keeping a tight schedule. An early bird by nature, Strassner begins her day by meticulously reviewing her calendar and preparing for the day ahead.

"I get here at 6:00 in the morning, every morning, and I go over my calendar first thing in the morning and then I do chamber work after that," she explained. "I don't take the bench until 8:30, so after I'm done running my calendar, I generally have a lot of correspondence from inmates that are asking to be resentenced."

However, she acknowledges the challenges posed by attorneys juggling multiple courtrooms. "If I was able to control everything, I'd be done with my calendar in the morning," she explained, "but I can't always control lawyers who have multiple courtrooms to go into."

Megerditchian considers Strassner one of her favorite judges.

"Her courtroom is never boring," she said. "What I love about Judge Strassner is she is a straight shooter.

"She knows the law and she expect her attorneys to do as well. And she leads with compassion. She understands that clients we represent have difficult lives, and she listens and understands the human issues that afflict our clients."

Deputy District Attorney Carolyn B. Donnel has been assigned to Strassner's calendar for a little over a year.

"As a judge, her reputation is that she is prepared, fair and efficient, but also very personable with attorneys and the public," Donnel wrote in an email. "She has a firm, but pleasant demeanor. When she is not getting down to business, she has a great sense of humor that makes her courtroom very enjoyable to work in."

Donnel also said that the judge values preparation. "As long as attorneys are mindful of that expectation, appearances in her courtroom are handled rather smoothly. All in all, Judge Strassner is a fantastic judge."

Meanwhile, Deputy Public Defender Andrew J. Tan has not yet had the opportunity to try a complete case in front of Strassner.

"The one time I was assigned to her for a felony trial, my client kept being disruptive during jury selection to the point where we declared a doubt as to his competency to stand trial and sent him to mental health court for evaluation," he explained.

He added some advice for attorneys appearing in Strassner's court: "Just being prepared on your cases goes a long way. In other words, knowing what you're doing to do in your case and if there's a legal argument to be made, knowing the legal authority to support your position. Also, keep everything direct and to the point.

"She does a pretty good job of getting through her calendar, so as long as you're prepared on your cases, you will be able to get in and out of there pretty quickly."

Outside of the courtroom, Strassner works with Deputy Public Defender Mary M. Dolmadjian as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles, co-teaching criminal law and criminal procedure.

"It's another way of me giving back to the community," she explained.

The judge finds great satisfaction in mentoring future legal professionals, noting that her students are eager and receptive. Some have come to observe proceedings in her courtroom. "I just get a kick out of it," she said.

The judge also describes herself as a "huge music fan." She recently attended a Dead & Company concert at the Sphere in Las Vegas with her husband. "It was amazing! It was mind-blowing," she said. She added that her long commute to work provides her with time to unwind, often listening to her favorite tunes.

Here are some of Judge Strassner's recent cases and the attorneys involved:

People v. Marinez, MA084498 -- murder

For the prosecution: Kevin D. Sexton, district attorney's office

For the defense: James Pinchak, alternate public defender's office

People v. Wade, MA084110 -- assault with a deadly weapon, great bodily injury

For the prosecution: Thomas J. Hilton, district attorney's office

For the defense: Andrew J. Wei, alternate public defender's office

People v. Mitchell, MA085163 -- assault with a semiautomatic by a felon causing great bodily injury

For the prosecution: Suzanna B. Friedman, district attorney's office

For the defense: Alison C. Brown, public defender's office

People v. Perez, MA083301 -- forcible rape, lewd conduct against multiple minors

For the prosecution: Suzanna B. Friedman, district attorney's office

For the defense: Stacie R. Halpern, Halpern & Halpern

People v. Brashear, MA075514 -- attempted murder of a custodial officer by a life prisoner

For the prosecution: Matthew P. Allen, district attorney's office

For the defense: Brandon J. Henderson, public defender's office