Judge Adam Y. Chang

Judge Adam Y. Chang brings a distinctive dual-track professional background to the Los Angeles Superior Court bench at Stanley Mosk Courthouse, having been appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom in August 2020. His career trajectory — seven years as a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney followed by six years as a founding partner at a civil litigation boutique — suggests a judge who is comfortable with both criminal procedure and civil practice, with hands-on experience on both sides of the adversarial divide. This breadth is relatively uncommon and likely informs a pragmatic, results-oriented judicial temperament rather than a purely academic or theoretical one. Judge Chang's prosecutorial background at the DA's Office (2007–2014) means he is deeply familiar with evidentiary standards, witness credibility assessments, and the mechanics of criminal trials. His subsequent pivot to founding a private litigation firm indicates entrepreneurial confidence and comfort with business disputes, client management, and the practical realities of civil litigation. The 2024 Daily Journal profile emphasizing his personal resilience and refusal to be deterred by fear suggests a judge who values determination, preparation, and authenticity — qualities he likely respects in the attorneys who appear before him. The notable case involving a murder charge connected to the death of a police officer and a woman during a police chase (December 2025) confirms that Judge Chang handles serious felony criminal matters, consistent with his prosecutorial roots. With limited publicly available ruling data at this time, attorneys should approach his courtroom with an understanding that his instincts are likely shaped by prosecutorial discipline, small-firm entrepreneurialism, and a personal ethos of confronting challenges directly rather than avoiding them.

Attorneys appearing before Judge Chang should lead with clarity and factual precision. His prosecutorial background trained him to cut through narrative to identify the core evidentiary question — so arguments that bury the key issue in lengthy preamble are likely to lose his attention. Present your strongest factual and legal points first, and be prepared to defend them under direct questioning. He is unlikely to be impressed by rhetorical flourish that is not anchored in the record. Given his civil litigation experience as a founding partner, Judge Chang understands the business realities of litigation, including costs, delays, and settlement dynamics. In civil matters, attorneys who demonstrate awareness of proportionality — matching the scope of discovery and motion practice to the actual stakes — may find a more receptive audience than those who pursue scorched-earth tactics. His entrepreneurial background suggests he may have limited patience for litigation conduct that appears designed to run up costs rather than resolve disputes. In criminal matters, his years as a deputy DA mean he is intimately familiar with prosecutorial tactics and will not be easily misled by either side. Defense attorneys should avoid arguments that appear to mischaracterize the evidentiary record, as he will likely spot such moves quickly. Prosecutors should not assume deference — he knows the playbook and will hold the People to their burden. Both sides should be thoroughly prepared on the facts before any hearing.

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  Master the Factual Record Before Any Hearing

  Judge Chang's prosecutorial training emphasizes factual command. Whether in a criminal or civil matter, know the record cold. He is likely to ask pointed questions about specific facts, and any hesitation or inaccuracy will undermine credibility.

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  Prepare Concise, Issue-Focused Oral Arguments

  Given his background in both trial advocacy and client-facing private practice, Judge Chang likely values efficiency. Prepare a clear roadmap of your argument — lead with your strongest point and be ready to pivot based on his questions rather than delivering a scripted monologue.

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  Research Any Available Tentative Rulings or Minute Orders

  Since public ruling databases currently have limited data on Judge Chang, attorneys should proactively search the court's online system for tentative rulings, minute orders, and any available transcripts from his department to build a current picture of his preferences.

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  Assess Proportionality of Discovery and Motion Practice

  His civil litigation background suggests sensitivity to disproportionate litigation tactics. Before filing motions or propounding extensive discovery, evaluate whether the scope is defensible relative to the case value and complexity. Be prepared to justify your approach if challenged.

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  Understand the Loyola Law School Analytical Framework

  Loyola Law School in Los Angeles has a strong emphasis on practical lawyering and public interest. Attorneys may find that arguments grounded in real-world impact and practical justice — rather than purely abstract legal theory — resonate with his analytical style.

• ›Be punctual and fully prepared before entering the courtroom — his background as both a prosecutor and a founding partner of a firm suggests he values professional discipline and will notice unpreparedness.
• ›Address the court with directness and confidence; his personal ethos of not letting fear stop him suggests he respects attorneys who advocate firmly and without hedging, provided the advocacy is grounded in the record.
• ›Do not misrepresent the record or overstate your legal authority — a former deputy DA is trained to identify when facts or law are being stretched, and credibility once lost before this judge may be difficult to recover.
• ›Maintain formal courtroom decorum, particularly in serious criminal matters; given his experience with high-stakes murder cases, any appearance of casualness or disrespect for the gravity of proceedings is likely to be viewed unfavorably.
• ›If you do not know the answer to a judicial question, say so and offer to brief the issue — attempting to bluff a judge with prosecutorial and civil trial experience is a high-risk strategy.