When voters head to the polls for the upcoming June 2, 2026, primary election, their choices will shape the local justice system for years to come. For Los Angeles County Superior Court Seat 181, Administrative Law Judge Thanayi Lindsey is stepping forward to translate her decades of public service into a seat on the county’s highest trial bench.
Superior Court Judges like Thanayi Lindsey make decisions that directly affect the daily lives of Angelenos. In family law, Superior Court judges determine custody and visitation arrangements; in housing matters, they decide whether a tenant may be evicted; and in probate, guardianship, and mental health cases, they rule on issues that shape a person’s safety, stability, and future. Judges also decide what evidence is admissible and have the discretion to order diversion programs instead of incarceration. These rulings impact thousands of families each year in terms of case outcomes, consequences of charges, and overall orders that parties must follow.
All this happens day in and day out, yet judicial races frequently fly under the radar. Because these critical roles operate quietly behind the scenes, most of us live in a world where we feel disconnected from our judicial representatives. Yet, every local voter has a profound personal stake in who sits on that bench—these decisions directly impact the safety, rights, and stability of our own neighborhoods and families.
In this crucial election cycle, Judge Thanayi Lindsey wants to reinforce that she is a public servant—fair, just, and entirely for the people of Los Angeles.
DTLA Weekly had the privilege and honor of learning more about her background, her candidacy, and why it’s important for Angelenos to be paying attention.
Many residents in Los Angeles may not fully grasp the responsibilities and duties of a Superior Court seat. For these reasons, judicial elections are paramount. As a veteran self-help attorney, Judge Lindsey says she developed what she calls “professional empathy” — the ability to understand and relate to a litigant’s perspective while maintaining the neutrality and professionalism required of the role.
For Superior Court Seat 181, it is important for voters to understand each candidate’s work history and connection to the community. Judge Lindsey’s background includes extensive civil experience in special education, employment, family law, real property, and domestic violence. She has taught civil procedure, contracts, and corporations as an associate professor for California State University, Los Angeles’ ABA-approved paralegal program. In 2009, the Los Angeles Superior Court honored her as its Family Law Mediator of the Year.
Her tenure as an LA Superior Court supervisor further expanded her perspective, as she oversaw between 4 and 24 staff members and supervised family law, Child Support Services Department (CSSD) enforcement, child support, and domestic violence cases, giving her a deep understanding of court operations and the importance of ensuring equal access to justice through free resources and services. For more than twelve years, she has supervised paralegals/court services assistants (CSAs) at the Self-Help Centers. She is also a Spanish-speaking jurist, bringing cultural awareness and lived experience that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles County and help ensure people from all backgrounds feel heard and respected in the courtroom.
“From day one, my courtroom would be defined by accessibility, professionalism, and fairness. Every person who enters, whether represented by counsel or navigating the system on their own, should feel respected and heard.”
“Where does this drive for accessibility come from?” we ask.
“My commitment to equal access to justice is rooted in my own lived experience. I come from humble beginnings. My grandfather had only a third-grade education, yet broke the economic barrier by becoming the town carpenter who built homes for the community; my parents lived under Jim Crow’s ‘whites only’ signs and broke the ‘small-town’ barrier by moving to Los Angeles to work, live, and raise a family; and I broke the education barrier by becoming the first attorney in my family, as well as the communication barrier by becoming a bilingual woman. These experiences shaped my understanding of what it feels like to be shut out or overlooked, yet with fortitude and courage, I have broken barriers.”
Because of this history, Judge Lindsey says she will approach the courtroom with a deep commitment to ensuring that every person—regardless of background, education, or resources—feels heard, respected, and treated fairly. Her goal is to create an environment where litigants can present their cases with confidence and receive equal treatment under the law.
June 2, 2026 election may just be the right moment for Judge Lindsey not only because her years of service across Los Angeles but her deep understanding of local communities and the concerns they face. “My work with the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and the Junior League of Los Angeles, along with my lifetime membership in the NAACP, reflects my longstanding commitment to civic engagement and equal justice.” Judge Lindsey reiterates that, “I have issued more than 3,700 decisions with a strong record of being upheld, demonstrating consistent judgment and sound legal reasoning.”
For more about Judge Lindsey and her campaign for Superior Court Seat 181, please visit https://www.electjudgelindseyforlasuperiorcourt.org/about.html.
Paid for by Judge Lindsey for LA Superior Court Judge 2026
