Nathan Hochman Sworn In As District Attorney Of Los Angeles County

In a swearing-in ceremony on the steps of the Los Angeles Hall of Justice on Tuesday, Nathan Hochman was officially sworn-in as the District Attorney of LA County, replacing the controversial George Gascon.

The negative backlash over Gascon’s reform-minded policies, which included reduced sentencing, death penalty opposition, and general discontent from many, swung the election heavily towards Hochman’s favor. With so many opposed to Gascon, Hochman quickly jumped into first in the race following the primary. The first polls in April found Hochman at 44%, up by 21 points over Gascon at 23%, and 33% undecided. With high crime concerns and a growing number victims and family members of victims directly blaming Gascon for crimes, as well as the loss of loved ones because of his policies, things only grew worse for Gascon over the summer. Huge numbers of endorsements, many of whom previously backed Democratic candidates, suddenly began migrating towards Hochman.

As the election neared, Gascon received endorsements from the Los Angeles County Democratic party and the Los Angeles Times. Gascon also made an all out blitz in the last month before the election. He managed to out-fundraise Hochman at the end, despite not having George Soros donate anything, leading to ads galore coming out in LA County. This included ads pointing to Hochman as a former Republican, trying to consolidate party unity around Gascon. He also tried to appeal to voters by backing the push to free the Menendez Brothers. However, this did nothing to help Gascon. A USC/CSU poll released at the beginning of October found that Gascon was 24 points behind, with 44% in favor of Hochman, 20% Gascon and around 33% undecided. Even more disheartening was the last poll, which found that Hochman had a near-majority of 50% of voters, with 25% backing Gascon and another 25% undecided.

Hochman proceeded to win in a landslide last month, winning 61.5% to 38.5%, or 1,421,207 votes to 891,264 votes. In the following weeks, Hochman quickly built up who he wanted in his office and what he was going to do, planning to hit the ground running come inauguration.

This led to Tuesday, where he was officially sworn into office by former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. In his speech, he promised a more tough on crime approach compared to his predecessor.

Hochman sworn in

“District attorneys must have only two things as their North Stars: the facts and the law,” said Hochman on Tuesday. “I reject blanket extreme policies on both sides of the pendulum swing – decarceration policies that predetermine that certain crimes and certain criminals are not going to be prosecuted and mass incarceration policies that also are not anchored in the facts and the law. We are here collectively as Angelenos who are looking to live in a county where safety is prioritized.”

Schwarzenegger added in remarks following Hochman’s oath, “What I have seen over the last few years was pitiful. Every time you turn on the news, you hear about someone getting stabbed on the Metro. Someone getting robbed in their home. Some store getting broken into. We’ve failed to protect the people. This is government’s No. 1 responsibility, to protect its citizens. Los Angeles has failed.”

In a follow up statement on Tuesday, Hochman said he would follow through with campaign promises he made, including bringing back sentencing enhancements for criminals who used firearms or are in gangs, allow prosecutors to attend parole hearings to advocate for rape and homicide victims when criminals are looking for an early release, and once again allowing juveniles to be charge with misdemeanors for stealing things valued under $950. Longer term plans also look to increase penalties for crimes ranging from fentanyl poisoning to organized retail crime.

High profile cases will also be decided soon, such as the early release of the Menendez brothers. While Hochman earlier said that he wants to keep them behind bars, he has since said that he will do due diligence and look at the facts of the case once again before making a decision.

“Here’s my approach, whether it’s the Menendez case or quite honestly any case: You have to do the hard work,” said Hochman last month. “You have to look, in that case, at thousands of pages of confidential prison files, you have to review thousands of trial transcripts from months-long trials, and you have to speak to the prosecutors, law enforcement and the defense counsel and the victims’ families. Only then can you be in a position to determine whether resentencing is the remedy in this situation or whether what is asked for in the resentencing is the appropriate request. I’m not in that position now, but I can tell you if I do have to make that call, I will do the hard work to make the right decision.”

Based on what he has lined up, the D.A.’s office is expected to look more like it did in the pre-Gascon years, well before the end of January.

“Hochman is the most anticipated D.A. LA County has had for some time,” explained LA County pollster Manny Rodriguez to the Globe on Tuesday. “People want crime to be reduced. Gascon wasn’t doing that. Hochman is. He has a tall order ahead, but nearly two thirds of the County believe in him, and who, until recently, was a Republican. Everyone will watch him close, but right now, it seems like he is starting off with a bang.”