Westlake Village resident prepares for bench duty

David W. Stuart Westlake Village resident David W. Stuart is tired of being judged. Now he wants to be the judge.

Following a lengthy campaign, Stuart won Los Angeles County Superior Court judge in the Nov.. 7 election. Stuart defeated his opponent, Janis Barquist, by a margin of 18 percent, more than 200,000 votes.

A Los Angeles County deputy district attorney who also worked as a temporary volunteer Superior Court judge in Ventura County, Stuart was endorsed by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, District Attorney Steve Cooley, Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca and other elected officials.

Stuart received his law degree with honors from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He was law clerk to federal Judge Manuel Real, worked as an associate with a civil law firm, and has been a criminal prosecutor with the district attorney's office for the past 11 years.

"I couldn't be happier with the results," Stuart said. "I very much look forward to taking my place on the bench and serving the citizens of Los Angeles County as a Superior Court judge."

Stuart's supporters said he has the experience and temperament to be an effective force on the bench. He has prosecuted more than 75 criminal cases, including many involving charges of murder, child abuse and domestic violence.

Stuart lives in Westlake Village with his wife, Joslyn, and their daughters Allyson and Hannah.