Judge Natalie Nardecchia

Judge Natalie Nardecchia was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court by Governor Gavin Newsom on December 7, 2023, as part of an 18-judge appointment cohort. She earned her law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law and brings a background rooted in federal civil rights enforcement: she joined the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2018 and served as both Acting Supervisory Attorney and Senior Trial Attorney from 2019 onward. Her pre-bench career was concentrated in employment discrimination litigation at the federal level, giving her direct trial experience in a specialized and fact-intensive area of law. Judge Nardecchia is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, a distinction noted in public coverage of her appointment. She is also a former foster parent, and reporting on her appointment has specifically identified that personal experience as shaping her judicial approach and rulings. This is a documented biographical fact, not inference — it was reported in connection with her appointment and judicial profile. Because Judge Nardecchia was appointed in late 2023, she is a relatively new member of the bench with no publicly analyzed ruling history available at this time. Attorneys should treat her as a judge whose courtroom patterns are still being established. Her EEOC background signals deep familiarity with employment law, discrimination claims, administrative procedure, and federal civil rights frameworks, all of which are directly relevant to cases involving those subject matters in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Given Judge Nardecchia's extensive background as a federal trial attorney at the EEOC, attorneys handling employment discrimination, harassment, or retaliation matters before her should expect a judge who is fluent in the substantive law and procedural mechanics of those claims. Arguments that rely on imprecise characterizations of discrimination standards or that conflate federal and state frameworks risk being quickly identified as weak. Attorneys should be precise about which legal standards apply and demonstrate command of the evidentiary record. Judge Nardecchia's reported background as a former foster parent has been publicly identified as influencing her rulings. In matters touching on child welfare, family law, dependency proceedings, or cases involving vulnerable populations, attorneys should be prepared for a judge who brings lived experience to the bench. Arguments that are dismissive of systemic factors affecting children or families in the welfare system may not resonate. Framing arguments with attention to real-world impact on vulnerable parties is consistent with what the available record suggests about her perspective. Because no ruling analyses or attorney observations are available, attorneys cannot yet rely on established patterns for procedural preferences, motion practice tendencies, or courtroom management style. The prudent approach is to adhere strictly to the Local Rules of the Los Angeles Superior Court, arrive fully prepared on both the law and the facts, and avoid assumptions about how she will handle novel procedural situations. Observing her courtroom before a first appearance, if scheduling permits, would provide practical intelligence not yet captured in any public database.

• critical

  Master the Applicable Employment Discrimination Standards

  If your matter involves employment law, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation claims, prepare with the assumption that Judge Nardecchia will have expert-level familiarity with both federal and California standards. Distinguish FEHA from Title VII where relevant and be precise about burden-shifting frameworks.

• critical

  Review Los Angeles Superior Court Local Rules Thoroughly

  With no documented courtroom-specific preferences available, strict compliance with the Local Rules is the baseline. Do not assume informal practices or shortcuts that may have been tolerated by other judges will be acceptable here.

• important

  Prepare Fact-Intensive Records in Child or Family Matters

  In cases touching on child welfare, dependency, or family law, her documented background as a former foster parent means she brings personal context to these matters. Prepare thorough factual records and be ready to address the real-world circumstances of any children or vulnerable parties involved.

• important

  Observe Her Courtroom Before First Appearance If Possible

  Because no attorney observations or ruling analyses are yet available, attending a public session in her courtroom before your first appearance is one of the most practical ways to gather intelligence on her procedural preferences and courtroom management style.

• Nice

  Research Cherokee Nation Jurisdictional Issues If Relevant

  Judge Nardecchia is a documented citizen of the Cherokee Nation. If your matter involves tribal jurisdiction, Indian Child Welfare Act issues, or related questions, be aware that she has a personal connection to tribal citizenship and prepare accordingly.

• ›Adhere strictly to the Los Angeles Superior Court Local Rules on formatting, filing deadlines, and page limits — no documented exceptions or informal practices have been established for her courtroom.
• ›In employment discrimination matters, demonstrate precise command of the applicable legal standards rather than relying on general characterizations; her EEOC background means she will recognize imprecision.
• ›In matters involving children or families, treat the human circumstances of the parties with seriousness and specificity — her documented background as a former foster parent reflects a perspective grounded in lived experience with the child welfare system.
• ›As a relatively new appointee, do not assume familiarity or informality; approach her courtroom with the same formality and preparation you would bring to any federal tribunal, consistent with her professional background.
• ›Arrive fully prepared on both the law and the facts; her trial attorney background at the EEOC reflects a career built on evidentiary and factual rigor.