Helen Zukin
CA · Presiding Justice, California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Four
Zukin is the presiding justice of Division Four in California's Second District Court of Appeal. She previously served on the Los Angeles Superior Court and practiced complex civil litigation.
Where Helen Zukin stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Safety and Crime Control (4 records)
Mixed record
Civil Rights (5 support · 3 oppose)
Campaign finance information not available
Track record
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 4 support
Joined People v. Sacco, upholding denial of mental-health diversion for alleged financial crimes.
July 8, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Conservatorship of B.K., upholding a jury-trial waiver and the renewal of a mental-health conservatorship.
January 28, 2026Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored G.G. v. G.S., reversing denial of a domestic-violence restraining-order renewal under an unduly narrow standard.
May 28, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Parris J. v. Christopher U., affirming a domestic-violence restraining order and a $200,000 attorney-fee award.
October 4, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 5 support · 3 oppose
Joined Conservatorship of B.K., upholding a jury-trial waiver and the renewal of a mental-health conservatorship.
January 28, 2026Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Lampkin v. County of Los Angeles, reversing fees for a whistleblower plaintiff who obtained no relief.
July 8, 2025Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court, partly granting a writ concerning statutory duties in a child-removal case.
December 5, 2024Opposes Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined The Comedy Store v. Moss Adams, refusing to enforce an out-of-state forum clause that threatened California's jury-trial right.
November 14, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined In re N.J., reversing termination of parental rights after failures involving relative-placement and tribal inquiries.
August 12, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored G.G. v. G.S., reversing denial of a domestic-violence restraining-order renewal under an unduly narrow standard.
May 28, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Association, reversing overbroad injunctive relief and a fiduciary-duty ruling.
March 1, 2024Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Parris J. v. Christopher U., affirming a domestic-violence restraining order and a $200,000 attorney-fee award.
October 4, 2023Supports Civil Rights
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — General
General · 6 records
Was unanimously confirmed as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
June 24, 2025
Source: courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was nominated as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
May 7, 2025
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Began serving as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
July 1, 2023
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was nominated as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
May 19, 2023
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Served as the West District site judge for the Beverly Hills Courthouse.
January 1, 2019
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
June 1, 2018
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Impartiality
Impartiality · 1 favorable
Authored A Company Hungary v. Bespalov, holding counsel in contempt and imposing sanctions for unsupported accusations of judicial bias.
August 4, 2026Favorable on Impartiality
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Legal Competence
Legal Competence · 27 favorable
Authored A Company Hungary v. Bespalov, holding counsel in contempt and imposing sanctions for unsupported accusations of judicial bias.
August 4, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined People v. Sacco, upholding denial of mental-health diversion for alleged financial crimes.
July 8, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Conservatorship of B.K., upholding a jury-trial waiver and the renewal of a mental-health conservatorship.
January 28, 2026Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Lampkin v. County of Los Angeles, reversing fees for a whistleblower plaintiff who obtained no relief.
July 8, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Getzels v. State Bar, upholding a rule barring inactive lawyers from private arbitration or mediation.
June 26, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Was unanimously confirmed as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
June 24, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was nominated as presiding justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
May 7, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Estate of Tarlow, holding a named trustee had standing to seek distribution and remanding contested merits issues.
February 27, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Optronic Technologies v. Celestron Acquisition, reviving a fraudulent-transfer claim while rejecting a tortious-interference claim.
February 10, 2025Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined County of Los Angeles v. Superior Court, partly granting a writ concerning statutory duties in a child-removal case.
December 5, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined The Comedy Store v. Moss Adams, refusing to enforce an out-of-state forum clause that threatened California's jury-trial right.
November 14, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined In re N.J., reversing termination of parental rights after failures involving relative-placement and tribal inquiries.
August 12, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Authored G.G. v. G.S., reversing denial of a domestic-violence restraining-order renewal under an unduly narrow standard.
May 28, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Colyear v. Rolling Hills Community Association, reversing overbroad injunctive relief and a fiduciary-duty ruling.
March 1, 2024Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Parris J. v. Christopher U., affirming a domestic-violence restraining order and a $200,000 attorney-fee award.
October 4, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Began serving as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
July 1, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Authored Diaz v. Zuniga, holding a trust amendment invalid because it did not follow the method required by the trust.
May 19, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Was nominated as an associate justice of the Second District Court of Appeal, Division Four.
May 19, 2023Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Helped establish the Los Angeles Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program.
November 17, 2021Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: lacourt.org · researched September 13, 2026
Served as the West District site judge for the Beverly Hills Courthouse.
January 1, 2019Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
June 1, 2018Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Chaired the Los Angeles County Bar Association Litigation Section Executive Committee.
January 1, 2017Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: appellate.courts.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became a partner at Kiesel Law.
January 1, 2010Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Kiesel Law as of counsel in its plaintiffs' complex civil practice.
January 1, 2006Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: archive.gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Opened a solo law practice focused on civil litigation.
January 1, 1995Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Became a partner at Simke, Chodos, Silberfeld & Anteau.
January 1, 1990Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Practiced law as an associate at Greene, O'Reilly, Agnew & Broillet.
January 1, 1985Favorable on Legal Competence
Source: gov.ca.gov · researched September 13, 2026
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 3 records
Authored A Company Hungary v. Bespalov, holding counsel in contempt and imposing sanctions for unsupported accusations of judicial bias.
August 4, 2026
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Joined Getzels v. State Bar, upholding a rule barring inactive lawyers from private arbitration or mediation.
June 26, 2025
Source: law.justia.com · researched September 13, 2026
Helped establish the Los Angeles Superior Court Judicial Mentor Program.
November 17, 2021
Source: lacourt.org · researched September 13, 2026
Retention question · November 3, 2026
Profile last researched September 12, 2026.