Judge Kim Appointed to Oversee LAUSD Lawsuits

A new judge has been assigned to two consolidated cases following a student overdose death at a local high school.

Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Secondary Education

Judge Kim Appointed to Oversee LAUSD Lawsuits

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Supervising Judge Lawrence Riff has appointed Judge Mark Kim to preside over two consolidated lawsuits against the Los Angeles Unified School District. These legal actions follow a 2022 fentanyl overdose death at Bernstein High School.

Why it matters

The change in judicial oversight comes after the school district filed requests for the previous judge to step aside. Officials alleged that Judge Janet Hong was prejudiced against the district, leading her to recuse herself last week.

Judge Mark Kim earned his law degree from Cornell University in 1988 and has served on the bench since his 1998 appointment by Governor Pete Wilson. The pending litigation involves the 2022 death of a 15-year-old student and a separate suit from a 19-year-old.

The players

Mark Kim

He is a judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court who was appointed to the bench by Governor Pete Wilson in 1998.

Lawrence Riff

He serves as a supervising judge in the Los Angeles Superior Court system.

Janet Hong

She is a judge who stepped aside from the consolidated cases after the school district claimed she was prejudiced.

Los Angeles Unified School District

This is the local public education authority managing schools across the Los Angeles area.

The details

Elena Perez initiated the first lawsuit against the district in December 2022, while a second case was filed in October 2023 on behalf of a student identified as H.W. Both matters are managed within the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Judge Mark Kim earned his law degree in 1988.
Judge Mark Kim was appointed to the bench in 1998.
A student died of a fentanyl overdose in 2022.
Elena Perez filed a lawsuit against the district in December 2022.
A second lawsuit was filed in October 2023.

Culture Shift

This judicial change follows the standards set by the California Code of Civil Procedure Section 170.6 regarding judicial impartiality. The reassignment reflects the broader legal framework ensuring that parties in civil litigation can challenge the presiding judge under specific conditions.

The reassignment may influence the timeline of ongoing legal proceedings involving student safety protocols at district schools. Residents and families affected by district policies will watch for how the new judge manages the consolidation of these high-profile cases.

The takeaway

Judicial changes in ongoing school district litigation highlight the procedural mechanisms available to parties seeking to ensure impartiality in court. Ensuring that legal processes remain transparent is a critical factor for families involved in sensitive campus safety disputes.