Joyce Karlin
Encyclopedia
Joyce A. Karlin, now Joyce Karlin Fahey, was a federal prosecutor, Los Angeles County Superior Court
judge
, and then a two-term mayor of Manhattan Beach, California
. She now works as a private arbitrator and mediator.
Karlin received her J.D. degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law
in 1974. From 1977 to 1991, Karlin was an assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles. She helped develop and prosecute some of the government's most important drug cases—among them the case against defendants in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena
. She also prosecuted child pornography
cases.
Karlin was elected in spring 1992 to California's Superior Court. She received 51% of the vote, soundly defeating four other candidates. She retired from the Court in 1997.
Under the name Joyce Fahey she served two terms as on the city council (1999 - 2007) of Manhattan Beach, California
and was twice elected mayor.
, a 15 year old African American
girl. The incident started when Du mistakenly thought Harlins was stealing a bottle of orange juice. A physical confrontation between the two ensued. Afterwards, while Harlins was leaving, Du shot her in the back of the head, killing her instantly.
In the criminal trial that ensued, People v. Soon Ja Du, a jury convicted the grocer of voluntary manslaughter
. It was left to Karlin, a newly appointed judge, to impose the sentence. Karlin gave Du a suspended sentence with probation, a fine, and four hundred hours of community service. She acknowledged that use of a firearm generally leads to a presumption against probation, but she decided that Du's case had several factors that created an unusual circumstance overcoming the presumption.
Karlin’s decision not to send Du to jail was met with profound dismay and protest from the African American community and inflamed the existing tension between Korean American
merchants and African American
community activists. An attempt was made to recall her, and then-district attorney Ira Reiner
instituted a policy that disqualified her from trying felonies.
Superior court
In common law systems, a superior court is a court of general competence which typically has unlimited jurisdiction with regard to civil and criminal legal cases...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, and then a two-term mayor of Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
. She now works as a private arbitrator and mediator.
Karlin received her J.D. degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Loyola University Chicago School of Law is the law school of the Loyola University Chicago, in Illinois. Established in 1909, by the Society of Jesus, the Roman Catholic order of the Jesuits, the School of Law is located in downtown Chicago, within walking distance of the Water Tower , the John...
in 1974. From 1977 to 1991, Karlin was an assistant United States Attorney in Los Angeles. She helped develop and prosecute some of the government's most important drug cases—among them the case against defendants in the kidnapping, torture, and murder of U.S. drug agent Enrique Camarena
Enrique Camarena
Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar Enrique "Kiki" Camarena Salazar (Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico July 26, 1947 - c. (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, February 9, 1985) was an undercover agent for the United States Drug Enforcement Administration who was abducted on...
. She also prosecuted child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
cases.
Karlin was elected in spring 1992 to California's Superior Court. She received 51% of the vote, soundly defeating four other candidates. She retired from the Court in 1997.
Under the name Joyce Fahey she served two terms as on the city council (1999 - 2007) of Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
and was twice elected mayor.
Controversy
Karlin was involved in a controversy over the ruling of a criminal case in which she was a presiding judge. In March 1991, Soon Ja Du, a Korean-American immigrant grocer, shot and killed Latasha HarlinsLatasha Harlins
Latasha Harlins was a 15 year-old African-American girl who was shot and killed on March 16, 1991 by Soon Ja Du, a 51 year-old Korean store owner. Harlins was a student at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, California...
, a 15 year old African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
girl. The incident started when Du mistakenly thought Harlins was stealing a bottle of orange juice. A physical confrontation between the two ensued. Afterwards, while Harlins was leaving, Du shot her in the back of the head, killing her instantly.
In the criminal trial that ensued, People v. Soon Ja Du, a jury convicted the grocer of voluntary manslaughter
Voluntary Manslaughter
Voluntary manslaughter is the killing of a human being in which the offender had no prior intent to kill and acted during "the heat of passion," under circumstances that would cause a reasonable person to become emotionally or mentally disturbed. In the Uniform Crime Reports prepared by the...
. It was left to Karlin, a newly appointed judge, to impose the sentence. Karlin gave Du a suspended sentence with probation, a fine, and four hundred hours of community service. She acknowledged that use of a firearm generally leads to a presumption against probation, but she decided that Du's case had several factors that created an unusual circumstance overcoming the presumption.
Karlin’s decision not to send Du to jail was met with profound dismay and protest from the African American community and inflamed the existing tension between Korean American
Korean American
Korean Americans are Americans of Korean descent, mostly from South Korea, with a small minority from North Korea...
merchants and African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
community activists. An attempt was made to recall her, and then-district attorney Ira Reiner
Ira Reiner
Ira Kenneth Reiner is an American politician. He was the Los Angeles City Controller from 1977 to 1981, and was the Los Angeles City Attorney from 1981 to 1984, both times being succeeded by James Hahn. He is the Los Angeles County District Attorney from 1984 to 1992...
instituted a policy that disqualified her from trying felonies.