Joyce Karlin Fahey

Joyce Ann Karlin Fahey and is regarded as a catalyst for the 1992 Los Angeles riots.

Early life and education Karlin was born in Caracas, Venezuela. During her childhood, Karlin lived in several countries including Italy, Germany and Argentina. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

Career Karlin was employed by defense attorneys in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Karlin became a Superior Court judge in 1991 and that year, she presided over the controversial voluntary manslaughter case involving the death of Latasha Harlins. The Los Angeles County District Attorney issued a "blanket affidavit policy", that disallowed Karlin from judging felony cases "involving violent crimes."

In 1992, an effort to recall Karlin narrowly failed. and in 2002 served a rotation as mayor, per the system used for Manhattan Beach. Since retiring from the bench she has used her husband, Superior Court Judge William F. Fahey's surname.

In 2003, a rival candidate for City Council formally filed a claim of invasion of privacy against Karlin when she obtained the candidate's social security number and used it to subsequently release details of her opponent's education to the public. Superior Court Judge William Willett granted Karlin's motion to dismiss citing California's anti-SLAPP law.