Armenian American Attorney Arpa Stepanian Appointed Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge

Armenian American attorney Arpa Stepanian has been appointed a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court by California Gov. Gavin Newsom, bringing more than two decades of courtroom experience to one of the nation’s largest court systems.

The appointment is another milestone for the Armenian American legal community in Southern California, where the Armenian Bar Association has spent years working to increase Armenian representation in the judiciary.

Stepanian has built much of his career defending people accused of crimes, including clients facing the possibility of life in prison.

Since 2015, he has been a partner at Weiss and Stepanian LLP, handling thousands of criminal cases, from misdemeanor charges to serious felonies. His work has included jury trials, preliminary hearings and negotiations with prosecutors. He has won acquittals in cases carrying potential life sentences and secured reduced charges and sentences for other clients.

His legal career began in public service. Before entering private practice, Stepanian worked as a deputy public defender in Riverside County and as a staff attorney at Inland Counties Legal Services, representing people who faced financial and other barriers to obtaining legal help.

Over the years, his work has earned several honors. He was selected as a Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star, named Best Attorney in Glendale by readers of the Glendale News-Press and recognized as Misdemeanor Attorney of the Year by a county public defender’s office.

He has also written about legal ethics and the rights of individuals seeking to bring claims against law enforcement.

The Armenian Bar Association welcomed his appointment, highlighting the importance of having Armenian Americans represented in California’s courts.

The organization has worked to build relationships between Armenian American attorneys, judges and government officials while encouraging younger members of the community to pursue careers in law.

At the association’s annual Judges’ Night and Awards Dinner, Luis Céspedes, California’s judicial appointments secretary, praised its efforts to connect communities and strengthen participation in the state’s legal institutions. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that Californians from different backgrounds have opportunities to serve and contribute to public life.

Following the announcement, Stepanian thanked the Armenian Bar Association for its congratulations and expressed his intention to remain involved with the Armenian legal community, including supporting the next generation of attorneys.

His new position marks a transition from defending clients before judges to hearing cases from the bench.

For the Armenian American community, his appointment also adds to a growing record of Armenian professionals serving in California’s public institutions.

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