Meet Judge Debra
Experienced
For 26 years, Archuleta passionately advocated for victims of violent crime as a trial lawyer before joining the bench six years ago. Her experience handling over 100 jury trials spanning homicide, rape, child abuse, and more is unmatched in this election.
Proven Leader
The Judge has spent the last seven years serving the County of Los Angeles as an elected Superior Court Judge. During her judicial tenure, she has handled thousands of criminal cases and juvenile dependency cases involving abused, neglected, and abandoned children.
Passionate
Archuleta has developed a balanced perspective on the complexities of homelessness, drug addiction, mental illness, foster care, domestic violence, child neglect and abuse. She has observed firsthand how these issues intersect to impact our children, families, and communities and pledges to bring this understanding to the District Attorney’s Office.
About Judge Debra Archuleta
Judge Debra Archuleta started her legal career while working full-time as a legal secretary while attending community college and U.C. Irvine, where she earned her B.A. in Economics in 1985. In 1990, she earned her J.D. from Western State University College of Law, which she attended at night and on the weekends. While in law school, she worked in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office as a certified law clerk, solidifying her interest in criminal justice. Thereafter she began her career as a Deputy District Attorney in June 1991, enjoying a very successful career as a criminal prosecutor. Judge Archuleta left the Office upon her election to the Superior Court in November 2016.
During her tenure in the District Attorney’s Office, Debra handled thousands of cases and prosecuted over 100 jury trials. She worked across various units, trying cases involving murder, rape, gang violence, elder abuse, child molestation, domestic violence, embezzlement, and animal abuse, among other crimes. She also led the Stalking Unit, where she prosecuted several high-profile cases involving celebrities and public officials.
In addition to her various assignments during her 28 years in the D.A.’s Office, Judge Archuleta served as a Legislative Analyst for the Office, focusing on vehicular homicide and DUI policy. She also advocated for victims of violent crime in approximately 150 parole board hearings at prisons throughout California.
She has volunteered in Project LEAD, visiting local elementary schools and educating students about the legal system. Debra has also enjoyed speaking to law enforcement organizations, victim advocacy groups, and schools about stalking, domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, social media, and more. Lastly, she received many awards and commendations during her long and meaningful prosecutorial career.
Debra has spent the last seven years serving the County of Los Angeles as an elected Superior Court Judge. During her judicial tenure, she has handled a variety of criminal cases including felonies, misdemeanors, and traffic violations, presiding over jury trials as well. Since 2020, Judge Archuleta has worked in juvenile dependency at the Edmund D. Edelman Children’s Court. In this assignment, she has developed a balanced perspective on the complexities of homelessness, drug addiction, foster care, domestic violence, child neglect and abuse. She has observed firsthand how these issues intersect to impact our children, families, and communities.
Debra’s husband, Jay, is a retired LAUSD music teacher and professional saxophonist. Her daughter, Alyssa, is a law student, and her son, Jake, works as an EMT and aspires to join a local fire department. In her spare time, Debra likes to read, travel, and play pickleball.