Candidates for Riverside County Superior Court — Office No. 10
2026 Primary Election — June 2, 2026 • Nonpartisan
Office No. 10 is an open seat due to the retirement of veteran Judge Harold Hopp, who served on the Riverside County Superior Court bench. This is the only contested judicial race in Riverside County this cycle. The seat is nonpartisan — candidates are not listed by party affiliation. If no candidate receives a majority (50%+1) in the June 2 primary, the top two advance to the November 3 general election. The winning judge will be assigned by the Presiding Judge to any division — criminal trials, family court, probate, or civil — and will face voters again in six years.
Michelle Paradise Nonpartisan Age ~60
Assistant County Executive Officer for Public Safety • Former Prosecutor (25 yrs)
Nearly 40 years in the justice system. Began her career as a 911 dispatcher for Riverside PD/FD. Spent 25 years as a prosecutor at the Riverside County DA's Office, rising to Assistant District Attorney. Took more than 100 serious and violent felony cases to jury trial, specializing in child abuse and homicide. Recognized as California's Prosecutor of the Year. Served as Chief Deputy DA overseeing Major Crimes and Special Prosecution Units (2015), then Assistant DA running Indio/Blythe offices (2016) and downtown Riverside (2019). Since 2023, serves as Assistant County Executive Officer for Public Safety, overseeing Sheriff, DA, Public Defender, Probation, Fire, and Emergency Management. JD from University of San Diego School of Law. Mother of four, grandmother of three. Endorsed by the Presiding Judge, the District Attorney, the Public Defender, the Sheriff, the entire Board of Supervisors, and a massive bipartisan list of community leaders.[1]
Qualifications & Philosophy
- Over 100 jury trials — extensive criminal and civil trial experience
- Prosecutor of the Year award (California)
- Executive leadership of entire county public safety apparatus
- Judicial philosophy: apply law to facts without bias or prejudice; treat everyone with dignity and respect; judges are not activists or lawmakers
- Expert in medically complex child abuse and homicide cases
- Conducted civil jury trials committing sexually violent predators to state hospitals
Key Endorsements
- Presiding Judge Jacqueline Jackson
- Judge Harold Hopp (retiring incumbent)
- District Attorney Mike Hestrin
- Public Defender Steve Harmon
- Sheriff Chad Bianco
- Riverside County Board of Supervisors
- Riverside Sheriffs' Association
- Riverside POA, CAL FIRE Local 2881
- 15+ Superior Court Judges
- Congressman Ken Calvert
- Senators Jeff Stone, Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh
- Assemblymembers Greg Wallis, Jeff Gonzalez, Leticia Castillo
- Mayors throughout Riverside County
Jennifer R. Loflin Nonpartisan Age ~45
Criminal Trial Attorney • Judge Pro Tem • Former Prosecutor & PD
19 years in the criminal justice system, with experience on all three sides — prosecutor, public defender, and judge pro tem. San Bernardino County prosecutor (2007-2008) handling juvenile trials. Director of the Riverside County Bar Association's Legal Aid program (2009-2011), providing free legal assistance to low-income residents. Riverside County Public Defender (2011-2017), then rejoined the Riverside DA's Office as a prosecutor (2017-2018), specializing in felony domestic violence, general felonies, and misdemeanors. Handled employment law for first responders at Castillo Harper (2018-2019). Since 2019, runs her own criminal defense firm. Since October 2023, has volunteered as a judge pro tem, filling in for absent judges to reduce caseloads. JD from Creighton University School of Law. Mother of three. Currently managing a caseload of 188 general felony cases while campaigning.[4]
Qualifications & Philosophy
- Experience as prosecutor, public defender, and judge pro tem — unique perspective from all sides of the bench
- Tried homicide, mayhem, and life cases; complex felony trials
- Judicial philosophy: follow the law regardless of who is in front of you; think outside the box when the answer isn't clear; prep after hours — "this isn't a 9-to-5 job"
- Experience across criminal, civil, employment, and collaborative courts
- Uses AI as a "springboard" but always verifies through LexisNexis; emphasizes safeguarding confidential communications
Key Endorsements
- No formal endorsement list published on campaign website
Andrea Garcia Nonpartisan Age ~45
Deputy Public Defender • Immigration Law Specialist • Law Lecturer
Nearly 20 years practicing law in state and federal courts. California State Bar-certified specialist in immigration law. Founded Garcia Immigration Law Group (2016). Recruited by Riverside County Public Defender's Office (2018) to create their first in-house immigration unit. Joined San Bernardino Public Defender's Office (2023) as their first attorney focused on post-conviction relief for foreign-born clients — handling the intersection of criminal and immigration law ("crimmigration"). JD from DePaul University College of Law. Teaches at La Verne University College of Law and Monterey College of Law. Volunteers in San Bernardino's mobile defense program and homeless courts. Provides immigration law training to public defenders nationwide. Endorsed by a broad cross-section of judges across multiple Southern California counties.[7]
Qualifications & Philosophy
- Nearly 20 years in state and federal courts, both trial and appellate
- Created first immigration units at two public defender offices
- State-certified immigration law specialist — rare expertise for a judicial candidate
- Judicial philosophy: possesses humility as a public servant; guides cases and helps people resolve complex legal problems; open courtroom where both sides are heard with respect
- Teaching experience provides objective, non-adversarial perspective on the law
- Pivoted between practice areas (immigration, criminal defense, post-conviction, federal) — demonstrates agility for any court assignment
Key Endorsements
- Superior Court judges across Southern California (multiple counties — not limited to Riverside)
- Legal professionals from diverse practice areas
- Community leaders in immigration and civil rights
Race Summary & Outlook
Three well-qualified candidates seek to replace retiring Judge Harold Hopp in Riverside County's only contested judicial race. Key dynamics:
- Michelle Paradise is the clear front-runner. She has the most extensive endorsement list (Presiding Judge, DA, Public Defender, Sheriff, Board of Supervisors, 15+ judges, dozens of mayors), the longest courtroom experience (100+ trials, 25 years as prosecutor), and executive leadership of the county's entire public safety apparatus. Her campaign has the most visible infrastructure. The Press-Enterprise's editorial board praised all three but noted Paradise would make "excellent appointments" to future open seats.
- Jennifer Loflin is the only candidate with experience on all three sides (prosecution, defense, judge pro tem). Her argument is uniquely balanced perspective — she's been in every seat in the courtroom. She runs her own firm and actively manages a heavy caseload while campaigning.
- Andrea Garcia brings a unique specialization in immigration law, which is increasingly relevant to California's courts. The Press-Enterprise editorial board favored Garcia for her immigration expertise. Her judicial endorsements span multiple counties, suggesting broad respect across the legal community.
- If no one gets 50%+1 in the primary, the top two advance to November. Paradise is the most likely to clear the majority threshold given her institutional support, but a runoff between any two of the three is possible.
Primary: June 2, 2026 — General (if needed): November 3, 2026