Meet Abby Baron | Criminal Prosecutor & Judicial Candidate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby Baron and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Calculated risks are a necessary part of a life well-lived. We take risks when we walk out the door each day, when we talk with people who give us butterflies in our stomachs, or when we stray from our favorite pick on a menu. Life is made up of risks in the form of choices. Embrace it! Do your homework and make an informed decision, but make the decision without fear. At 22, I moved to California alone. I didn’t have family here and I came from a small town in the country, but I wanted to experience the diversity and bustle of LA. This was a life-changing risk! Life as I know it – everyone I know, work with, rely on, love, and every experience I’ve had in the last 20 years – would never have happened if I hadn’t jumped. My leap of faith took me from small town Tennessee to law school at Pepperdine in Malibu, and I became a special victims prosecutor.

After 14 years as a prosecutor, I’m now running for Superior Court Judge here in Los Angeles County in the June election. Is it a risk? Yes, of course. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Working to serve the people in the county I love has become my life, and I’m willing to put myself out there to achieve this goal. I am experienced and qualified, pop over to check out my socials and website if you can. Here’s to that young girl who took that big trip out west – believe in your decisions, take the risks, put yourself out there and do big things!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
How exciting is it that I get to meet new people every day? To face a new challenge every day? That I get to have fun serving LA? It’s a really special thing I get to do! I am proud of the fact that I have spent my career committed to public service and my community. I speak to so many amazing and strong people. Being an attorney is fast-paced and you have to constantly think on your feet, there is never a dull moment. Moving to LA, I had to build a network of friends and colleagues from scratch and they have been a great support both in my career and in my campaign for judge here in LA County. I have learned that it is the little things that build connections and trust — like talking about nail art and unexpected high heels or the Dodgers game the night before. As a Deputy District Attorney prosecuting special victims crimes, the children I work with are truly amazing. Getting to work with them and for them every day has taught me about how important it is to really listen without just waiting for your turn to speak. As a lawyer, sometimes the names on a file become all people see but it has been a mark of my career to make sure each individual is treated as just that – an individual. Every person has a story that is just waiting to be told. As a prosecutor, community service volunteer, and as a judicial candidate, I have made it my goal to try and connect with people where they are and do my best to serve them in whatever way I can. Recognize how rich the culture and diversity is around you, and help others to shine!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Without hesitation, the bestie has to go to 555 East Steakhouse in Long Beach. I am convinced it is the greatest steakhouse in Los Angeles with an old school vibe, live pianist and fantastic cocktails (try the Smoking Gun). Downtown, which is where I spent a lot of my time working, we would have to go to KazuNori for the excellent hand rolls and then pop over to the jewelry district to Belle Époque to peruse their amazing necklaces and earrings. Any trip to LA needs to include a trip to LACMA, and a leisurely walk through their Japanese Pavilion to see the light reflect on the gilded screens. In the South Bay, I have to take everyone to Kirari West Bakery for their gluten free pastries and amazing breakfast sandwiches before heading to the South Coast Botanic Garden where you can get lost among the trees and occasionally go to events like DiscOasis – outdoor roller skating with live disco music amid the palms! I would head to the Redondo Beach Pier to Tony’s to have a Mai Tai and watch the waves crash on the beach, and then drive down to OC to get nail art at Nail Factory by Anri.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My family always encouraged my independence and let me follow my own path. All of them pushed me to be better, to compete with myself instead of others, and to be kind along the way. My parents pushed me in school, in sports, and to never stop learning. I was taught the value of a conversation, the importance of listening, and that to do big things you have to get outside your comfort zone. They supported me even when I moved across the country and we had to see each other by plane instead of car so I could pursue my dreams. I have an amazingly strong group of friends who will dance with me in the rain and give me the strength to fight when I don’t think I’ve got anything left. My fiancé is a man who sees the potential in others, and has shown me facets and strengths within myself I wouldn’t have otherwise discovered. The people in your life will show you who you are, and I am proud of those who have chosen to walk with me!

Website: www.baronforjudge.com

Instagram: @baronforjudge

Facebook: Abby Baron for Judge

Image Credits
Headshots by James Korin Photography