Inland Empire Law Weekly

Jennifer Loflin: candidate for judge

Loflin runs her own criminal defense firm [https://loflinlawoffices.com/?ref=ielaw.news]. She has 19 years of experience in the criminal justice system. She was a San Bernardino prosecutor from 2007 to 2008, handling juvenile trial cases. From 2009 to 2011, she directed the Riverside County Bar Association’s Legal Aid program, which provided free legal assistance to low income community members. She was a Riverside County public defender from 2011 until 2017, and then a Riverside prosecutor from 2017 until 2018. In both offices, she specialized in felony domestic violence, general felonies, and misdemeanor cases. She handled employment law for first responders at Castillo Harper from April 2018 until August 2019. Since October 2023, Loflin has volunteered to oversee Riverside courtrooms as a temporary judge, filling in for judges that are out of the office. She is a mother of three.

Michelle Paradise: candidate for judge

Paradise joined the bar in 1997, and spent 25 years as a prosecutor, bringing over 100 cases to jury verdict, with a specialty in child abuse and homicides. She was promoted to Chief Deputy District Attorney, and placed in charge of the Major Crimes and Special Prosecution Units, in 2015. Paradise was promoted to Assistant District Attorney, overseeing the Indio and Blythe offices, in 2016. She was transferred to run the downtown office in 2019. County Executive Officer Jeff Van Wagenen invited her to join Riverside County Executive Office in 2023, as the Assistant Chief Executive Officer for Public Safety. She oversees the District Attorney’s Office, Public Defender’s Office, Sheriff’s Office, Office of Emergency Management, Riverside County Fire and Probation Departments. She also works in collaboration with Riverside Superior Court, to provide indigent defense contracts and funding resources. She is a mother of four and a grandmother to three.

Andrea Garcia: candidate for judge

Garcia specializes in immigration law at the San Bernardino Public Defender’s Office. She joined the State Bar in 2007, and practiced immigration law, creating her own firm, Garcia Immigration Law Group, in 2016. She was recruited to the Riverside County Public Defender's Office in 2018, to create their first immigration unit. She joined the San Bernardino Public Defender’s Office, as their first attorney focused on post-conviction relief for foreign-born clients, in 2023. In addition to representing clients, she provides immigration and constitutional legal advice to public defenders. She volunteers in San Bernardino’s mobile defense program and homeless courts. She has taught at the La Verne University College of Law, and Monterey College of Law, and provides training in criminal defense of foreign-born people throughout the United States. She is a mother, and lives with her family in Riverside.

No. 45: Audio edition

Judicial candidates are interviewed; Bianco's election investigation halted; people attending court have been arrested by ICE, and more.

No. 41

This edition deals with local education events, mental health diversion and our nation's revolution over unfunded mandates.