49er Industry Chats: Reflections on 38 Years in the California Criminal Justice System: How I Got Here and Why I Stayed
Reflections on 38 Years in the California Criminal Justice System: How I Got Here and Why I Stayed.
![judge_dabney.jpg The Honorable James R. Dabney](/sites/default/files/images/judge_dabney.jpg)
The Honorable James R. Dabney '80
Judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court
After graduating from law school, Judge Dabney entered the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office as senior law clerk. Once passing the bar, he was hired as Deputy District Attorney in the DA’s office where he worked in this capacity for 19 years. Judge Dabney was then appointed to the bench by Governor Gray Davis and assigned to the Downey Courthouse. After two years, he transferred to the Airport Courthouse where he sat in general jurisdiction criminal court for ten years. For the past seven years, Judge Dabney has been assigned to a general jurisdiction criminal court in the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, the largest criminal court in the country.